BIOLOGY 
LIBRARY 

*    6 


MICKOBES 


AND 


HEALTH 


BY 


SAMUEL  J.  WILSON,  M.  D. 

\\ 


MEMBER    CLINTON    COUNTY    MEDICAL    SOCIETY, 

CENTRAL    MICHIGAN    MEDICAL    SOCIETY, 

MICHIGAN    STATE    MEDICAL 

SOCIETY 


PUBLISHED     BY     THE     AUTHOR 
-    1901 


ylain  Lib. 


TMF  L'BRARY  OF 
CONGRESS, 

T*o  COPIES   R«H*-iveo 

OCT.    7      'Q 


3LA83         XX«x  No. 

7*y^ 

COPY  A. 


LI0RAR* 
*G 


COPYRIGHT,    1901 

BY 
SAMUEL    J.     WILSON,     M.     D. 


OF 
OUPLIC./E 

V,  .fircn»36t% 


KOBEUT  SMITH   PRINTING   CO. 

PKINTEKS  AND  BINDBHS 

LANSING,    MICH. 


CONTENTS. 

\ 

Page. 

Introductory 1 

Germs 13 

Consumption 134 

Typhoid  Fever ,..-;:  :..  . ..._ 178 

The  Non-Contagious   Diseases.;.. 194 


268467 


PEEFACE. 

In  the  following  pages  the  author  has  endeavored 
to  give  a  rational  cause  for  disease,  especially  those 
diseases  that  are  contagious,  or  those  said  to  be  caused 
by  germs. 

He  has  endeavored  to  explain, 

First,  what  a  germ  is,  and  its  relation  to  man. 

Second,  the  various  germ  theories  are  presented. 
These  theories  are  released  from  all  superfluous  verbi- 
age; stripped  of  their  delusive  coverings,  and  left  to 
stand  or  fall  according  to  their  merits. 

Third,  and  last,  there  is  presented  the  true  medium 
by  which  disease  is  conveyed  from  one  to  another,  a 
medium  wholly  independent  of  the  germ. 

The  author  is  a  firm  believer  in  germs,  for  germs  are 
the  means  of  carrying  on  the  world's  economy,  the 
medium  through  which  all  material  progress  has  been 
made;  but  it  would  be  unreasonable  to  say  that  this 
medium  is  destructive  to  man.  Yet,  by  a  system  of 
theorizing,  the  bacteriologists  have  actually  succeeded 
in  establishing  in  the  minds  of  some  a  belief  that  germs 
are  the  cause  of  disease. 

The  author  believes  that  all  such  theories  have  ema- 
nated from  a  hypothesis,  an  assumed  basis  which  fails 
to  present  even  a  comprehensive  guess  or  a  logical  sup- 
position. 

It  is  easy  to  frighten  people  over  a  case  of  diphtheria 


Vlll  MICROBES    AND    HEALTH. 

or  smallpox,  and  with  health,  boards  sounding  the  notes 
of  alarm,  many  become  excited,  and  are  willing  to 
believe  any  foolish  thing. 

When  disease  enters  a  community,  if  people  would 
pay  less  attention  to  the  hypothetical  germ  theorist, 
and  the  promulgates  of  fads,  deal  less  with  the  im- 
aginative and  speculative,  and  depend  more  upon  the 
real  and  the  natural,  disease  would  be  less  serious,  for 
excitement  only  lowers  the  powers  of  resistance  and 
renders  disease  more  fatal. 

From  the  teachings  of  bacteriology  certain  conclu- 
sions have  been  drawn  regarding  disease  and  its  cause, 
and  the  purpose  of  this  volume  is  to  meet  those  con- 
clusions with  what  the  writer  believes  to  be  the  true 
explanation,  and  one  wholly  independent  of  the  germ. 
Therefore,  whatever  is  said  in  the  following  pages  is 
aimed  at  the  principle  and  not  at  the  bacteriologists. 

While  the  author  has  endeavored  to  give  a  full  and 
clear  description  of  the  various  subjects  mentioned, — 
consumption,  typhoid  fever,  disease,  the  various  germ 
theories,  etc.,  he  has  also  aimed  to  eliminate  all  super- 
fluous verbiage,  and  present  each  subject  in  the  fewest 
words  consistent  with  a  correct  understanding  of  each. 

This  gives  the  greatest  amount  of  knowledge  with 
a  minimum  amount  of  reading. 

Each  chapter  is  written  in  a  plain  conversational 
manner,  which  can  be  readily  understood  by  all. 


MICROBES    AND    HEALTH. 


INTRODUCTORY. 

"The  crowning  virtue  of  manhood  is  man,,  and  as 
the  coming  centuries  roll  over  their  ashes,  their  names 
will  be  held  in  as  profound  respect  as  if  angel  purity 
had  given  the  impress  of  divinity  to  their  every  action. 

"As  time  advances  their  deeds  will  become  richer  and 
holier  until  they  command  the  respect  and  reverence 
of  every  beholder." 

A  nation  may  be  lost  in  the  whirlpool  of  revolution 
and  strife,  yet  the  names  of  great  men  will  remain  as 
enduring  as  time. 

The  men  who  have  led  the  world  in  peace  aild  war, 
who  have  snatched  victory  from  land  and  sea,  who  have 
made  the  world  beautiful  and  grand,  who  have  labored 
for  the  advancement  of  the  human  race,  labored  to  place 
man  upon  a  higher  plane  intellectually,  labored  to  re- 
lieve suffering  and  prolong  human  life,  have  been 
prompted  by  the  demands  of  imperious  duty  based  upon 
the  divine  principles  of  equality.  As  time  advances  the 
progress  and  successful  termination  of  the  principles 
for  which  they  struggled  combine  to  throw  around  them 
a  halo  that  fills  the  reader  with  admiration. 

They  are  men  who  have  struggled  for  the  support 


2  MICROBES    AXD    HEALTH. 

of  those  principles  upon  which  governments  are 
founded,  labored  for  such  government  of  a  state  or 
nation  as  will  result  in  the  greatest  prosperity,  peace 
and  safety  for  its  people,  and  hring  about  the  best 
possible  results  of  civil  society.  They  are  men  who  aid 
in  the  production,  accumulation  and  distribution  of 
wealth,  both  financial  and  intellectual;  aid  and  sup- 
port great  industrial  revolutions,  and  aid  in  modifying 
man's  selfish  desires.  They  realize  that  industrial 
freedom  is  one  of  the  most  sacred  rights  of  man ;  realize 
the  obligations  of  those  in  power,  and  strive  for  the 
protection  of  the  people,  and  for  their  preservation  and 
defense  against  foreign  control. 

"Do  unto  others  as  you  would  have  others  do  unto 
you  was  the  watchword  in  heaven  before  this  mighty 
world  was  spoken  into  existence,  and  its  melodies  will 
be  chanted  through  the  rolling  ages  of  eternity." 
These  magic  words  are  still  the  guiding  star  to  all  who 
are  striving  to  dispel  the  mists  of  superstition  and 
place  benevolence  and  right  before  commercial  inter- 
ests. 

"Justice  is  one  of  the  noblest  attributes  of  man. 
It  soars  above  self  and  is  prompted  by  honest  motives. 
It  aims  at  glorious  ends.  It  is  not  confined  to  any  na- 
tion, country  or  caste.  No  sectarianism  can  swerve  it, 
no  monarch  suppress  it,  and  no  obstacle  paralyze  it." 

Contrast  such  principles  with  the  gigantic  system 
that  has  been  built  up  during  the  last  few  years, 
founded  upon  the  present  day  germ  theories,  and  sup- 
ported by  what  is  called  serum  therapy,  animal  ex- 
tracts and  antitoxins.  These  are  simply  the  filthy 


INTRODUCTORY.  3 

blood  serums  taken  from  the  lower  animals  and  in- 
jected into  the  human  system.  By  this  means  the 
bacteriologists  claim  to  be  able  to  cure  disease;  espe- 
cially those  diseases  that  are  "ketching."  Yet  it  is 
well  known  that  they  cannot  cure  smallpox,  measles,, 
whooping-cough,  scarlet  fever,  or  any  other  disease. 
In  fact,  while  health  boards  and  other  bacteriologists 
manufacture  and  use  antitoxins  for  many  diseases,  they 
have  proved  such  utter  failures  that  of  late  we  hear 
little  of  them,  except  antitoxin  for  diphtheria.  The 
others  have  faded  from  view  until  even  the  most  san- 
guine bacteriologist  is  ashamed  to  speak  of  them.  Anti- 
toxin for  diphtheria  will  meet  the  same  fate.  The 
same  is  true  of  animal  extracts.  In  fact,  the  whole 
germ  theory  with  its  auxiliaries,  although  encased  in  an 
armor  of  self-pride  and  arbitrary  leadership,  will  die 
a  natural  death. 

The  claims  of  the  bacteriologist  are  pure  assumption. 
They  claim  consumption  is  contagious,  yet  the  writer 
knows  of  no  evidence  they  have  ever  produced  in  sup- 
port of  such  a  claim.  In  fact,  the  very  nature  of  the 
disease  renders  such  evidence  impossible.  Health 
boards  are  not  only  trying  to  force  the  consumptive 
into  exile,  but  to  force  their  theoretical  literature  upon 
the  public  even  to  greater  extent  than  they  have  hereto- 
fore been  able  to  do. 

They  claim  to  lead  the  medical  profession,  to  decide 
what  diseases  are  contagious  and  those  that  are  not. 
Officialism  asserts  and  you  must  believe.  Unsuspecting 
and  susceptible  legislators  are  prevailed  upon  to  grant 
additional  appropriations  and  pass  new  laws,  increasing 


4  MICROBES   AND    HEALTH. 

the  power  of  the  bacteriologist  over  the  individual  phy- 
sician and  the  general  public.  The  legislators  receive 
every  encouragement  from  the  attending  bacteriolo- 
gists who  aid  and  abet  the  passage  of  the  various  bills. 

We  believe  the  lobbying  necessary  to  convert  this 
mass  of  bacteriological  maze  into  law  is  demoraliz- 
ing and  degrading  to  human  nature;  that  it  antago- 
nizes natural  progress,  tramples  upon  justice  and  ulti- 
mately would  destroy  all  that  is  worthiest  for  which 
the  world  has  so  long  striven.  It  is  doubtful  if  the 
crowned  heads  of  Europe  or  the  president  of  the  United 
States  possess  such  absolute  authority.  In  spite  of 
our  boasted  civilization  and  intellectual  liberty,  there 
has  grown  up  among  us  a  form  of  arbitrary  power  that 
would  astonish  any  careful  observer. 

All  legislation  intended  to  prohibit  or  regulate  any 
calling  or  industry  is  class  legislation,  and  is  repugnant 
to  the  spirit  of  constitutional  liberty.  Health  boards 
and  pure  food  commissions  are  maintained  by  class 
legislation,  and  any  association  or  corporation  that  can- 
not live  without  class  legislation  is  not  worthy  an 
existence. 

To  govern  best  is  to  govern  least.  It  is  said  the 
founders  of  our  republic  taught  that  a  government  was 
simply  an  association  of  individuals  designed  to  pre- 
serve order  and  administer  justice.  But  politicians 
are  said  to  be  parasites  caring  nothing  for  the  body  on 
which  they  feed  except  as  foraging  ground. 

A  man  is  useful  only  so  long  as  his  knowledge  is 
based  upon  unconscious  worth  and  ability.  Every 
manly  speculator  may  diverge  from  the  ideal  or  pos- 


INTRODUCTORY.  5 

sible,  but  the  moment  a  man  feels  a  sense  of  superior- 
ity he  casts  a  shadow  across  the  plane  of  natural  pro- 
gress. 

We  realize  that  state  boards  of  health  and  serum 
manufacturers  would  move  heaven  and  earth  to  main- 
tain their  commercial  interest  and  pose  as  leaders 
of  the  medical  profession.  But  theory  versus  facts 
will  never  succeed.  "Truth  crushed  to  earth  shall  rise 
again."  The  germ  theories  are  fading.  Truth  and 
realities  are  taking  their  place,  and  soon  they  will  lie 
buried  beneath  the  charitable  mantle  of  natural  pro- 
gress. Even  now  it  is  estimated  that  less  than  half 
the  medical  profession  believe  the  doctrine.  Yet  the 
efforts  of  those  who  support  its  claims  have  resulted 
in  vast  business  enterprises  which  extend  their  inter- 
ests throughout  the  civilized  world.  So  skillfully  has 
this  been  done  that  the  public  look  upon  each  move 
with  the  greatest  admiration,  and  wonder  what  science 
will  discover  next.  What  is  the  result  of  this  marvel- 
ous and  complicated  system  of  research?  Why,  there 
is  no  evidence  that  the  bacteriologists  have  ever  pre- 
vented a  single  disease  or  saved  one  human  life.  On 
the  contrary,  with  the  discovery  of  each  new(?)  mic- 
robe, the  scythe  of  death  cuts  a  new  swath  in  the  ranks 
of  living  men  and^women.  This  fatal  termination  is 
the  natural  result  of  testing  some  new  serum  or  animal 
extract,  and  is  also  influenced  by  the  excitement  and 
fear  created  by  some  startling  claims  made  by  the  state 
boards  of  health  or  other  bacteriologists.  We  be- 
lieve the  so  called  science  is  the  outgrowth  of  gi- 
gantic commercial  interests,  which  are  supported  by 


6  MI'  ROBES    AND    HEALTH. 

those  who  are  acting  contrary  to  natural  laws,  laws 
which  are  repellant  alike  to  science  and  humanity.  It 
is  publicly  stated  that  some  of  our  philanthropists  are 
to  build  an  immense  institute  for  medical  research. (?) 
We  are  told  that  the  proposed  institution  is  to  be 
established  on  the  theories  of  Koch,  Pasteur,  and  other 
commercial  scientists  in  Europe.  Yet  the  chief  event 
which  made  the  name  of  Koch  famous  was  the  con- 
struction of  a  colossal  edifice  of  pretense,  to  which 
clung  the  desperate  hopes  of  countless  consumptives — 
only  to  be  crushed  when  it  fell,  or  when  Koch's  tuber- 
culin was  pronounced  a  fraud  by  the  civilized  world. 

Again,  wrhen  we  turn  from  this  financial  enterprise 
to  that  of  Pasteur,  of  hydrophobia  fame,  we  find  that 
during  the  past  fifty  years  there  probably  have  not  been 
so  many  cases  of  hydrophobia  in  the  United  States  as 
have  occurred  in  Paris  in  one  year,  and  Paris  is  the 
home  of  the  Pasteur  Institute.  This  corresponds  to 
the  statement  of  James  Howard  Thornton,  C.  B.  M.  B., 
Fellow  of  Kings  College,  London,  that  the  inoculation 
of  the  Pasteur  antirabic  serum  often  produces  hydro- 
phobia. The  same  as  antitoxin  for  diphtheria  often 
causes  death.  It  is  stated  that  at  the  April  9th,  1900r 
meeting  of  the  medical  association  of  the  greater  city 
of  New  York,  antitoxin  for  diphtheria  was  almost  uni- 
versally condemned  by  those  who  spoke. 

We  remember  the  teaching  that  every  animal  lives 
upon  another.  That  the  strong  devour  the  weak. 
That  every  mouth  is  a  slaughter-house  and  every  stom- 
ach a  tomb,  and  that  over  this  precipice  runs  a  perfect 
Niagara  of  blood.  We  believe  that  trusts,  boards  of 


INTRODUCTORY.  7 

health,  pure  food  commissions  and  other  monopolies 
possess  this  gormandizing  power  to  a  remarkable  de- 
gree, and,  while  his  efforts  may  be  weak,  the  author  will 
lend  his  influence  to  aid  in  checking  the  tremendous 
tide  of  commercialism  that  underlies  the  germ  theories, 
the  manufacture  of  animal  extracts,  serum  therapy, 
and  antitoxins. 

The  millions  of  public  money  now  turned  into  the 
channels  of  so  called  medical  science,  and  for  which 
boards  of  health  are  largely  responsible,  should  be  con- 
verted into  institutions  where  the  grand  yet  simple 
truths  of  hygienic  living  could  be  open  to  all.  Health 
must  be  obtained  by  temperance,  purity,  cleanliness,  a 
contented  mind  and  cheerful  spirit,  and  by  healthful 
atmosphere,  rendered  pure  by  the  untiring  operation 
of  nature's  laboratory;  and  not  by  inoculating  the  sys- 
tem with  poison  from  diseased  animals  or  dug  from  the 
brains  and  entrails  of  tortured  brutes.  "But  self  is 
the  Sahara  of  the  human  heart,  where  all  the  noble 
powers  of  the  soul  are  buried  in  its  scorching  sands/' 
The  mournful  process  of  trying  to  extract  your  health 
from  another's  disease,  or  your  comfort  from  another's 
misery,  should  be  exchanged  for  that  preventive  medi- 
cine, that  beautiful  gift — an  untainted  system. 


GERMS. 

At  first  the  germ  theory  was,  oh,  so  easy,  so  delight- 
fully simple.  It  was  this:  "Every  contagious  disease 
was  due  to  a  specific  germ.  No  germ;  no  disease;  elimi- 
nate the  germ,  cure  the  disease."  This  was  a  plain  state- 
ment which  all  could  understand.  But  now  the  bacter- 
iologists themselves  admit  that  there  are  innumerable 
cases  of  infectious  disease  where  no  germ  can  be  found, 
and  also  innumerable  cases  where  the  germs  are  pres- 
ent, and  no  disease  can  be  found,  and  as  a  result  they 
have  tried  to  get  out  of  the  difficulty  by  saying:  "Bac- 
teriologists have  come  to  recognize  that  not  the  pres- 
ence of  the  germ,  but  some  virulent  condition  of  the 
microbe  causes  the  disease.  In  other  words  the  dis- 
eased condition  seems  to  be  common  to  both  germ  and 
patient,  and  the  problem  which  really  confronts  us  is 
to  find  out  what  ails  the  germ."  We  believe  the  germ 
is  all  right,  and  respectfully  inquire  what  ails  the  bac- 
teriologists ?  Again,  if  the  "disease  is  common  to  both 
germ  and  patient,"  let  us  ask,  does  the  patient  take 
the  disease  from  the  germ,  or  does  the  germ  take  the 
disease  from  the  patient? 

The  tendency  of  the  bacteriologist  is  to  lead  the 
medical  profession,  and  to  do  this  they  think  they  must 
get  up  something  new,  or  they  will  not  be  popular;  the 
next  thing  is  a  large  number  of  imaginary  successes  in 


10  MICROBES   AXD   HEALTH. 

some  very  difficult  cases,  which,  of  course,  could  not 
have  heen  performed  without  their  new  discovery,  new 
antiseptics,  new  antitoxins,  etc.  Then  they  must  have 
a  load  of  testimonials  from  leading(  ?)  men — men  with 
far-fetched  distinction;  now  they  have  made  a  mark 
or  name  for  themselves,  which  distinguishes  them  as 
leaders.  Next,  they  must  have  a  following.  Some  will 
readily  agree  with  them  and  will  advocate  any,  and  nil 
proposed  plans,  but  the  great  majority  will  fall  in  line 
simply  because  they  are  afraid  to  do  otherwise;  they 
are  afraid  the  bacteriologists  will  accuse  them  of  being 
behind  the  times. 

Since  our  late  unpleasantness  with  Spain  we  have 
heard  much  about  bubonic  plague.  The  writer  has 
just  read  a  pamphlet  on  bubonic  plague  written  by 
Dr.  Walter  Wyman,  a  noted  bacteriologist.  The  doctor 
claims  the  disease  is  caused  by  a  germ,  and  he  describes 
the  plague  germ  as  a  "coceo-bacillus."  Coccus  means 
round  like  a  ball,  and  bacillus  means  long  like  a  rod. 
It  is  known  that  many  times  bacteriologists  do  not 
agree,  and  this  wise  division  is  understood  to  be  for 
the  purpose  of  giving  both  sides  an  equal  chance.  The 
advice  furnished  by  Doctor  Wyman  and  other  bacter- 
iologists is  given  in  large  quantities.  Such  generosity 
reminds  us  of  the  Irishman's  will,  which,  condensed, 
reads  something  like  this : 

I  bequathe  to  all  mankoind  the  free  air  of  hiven,  all 
the  fishes  in  the  sea  they  can  ketch,  and  all  the  birds 
in  the  air  they  can  shute.  I  bequathe  to  thim  all  the 
sun,  moon  and  stars.  I  lave  to  Timothy  O'Flaherty 
one  pint  of  potheen  I  can't  finish.  May  God  have 
mercy  on  O'Flaherty. 


GERMS.  11 

The  bacteriologists  are  unable  to  give  us  the  cause 
of  disease,  but  they  can  tell  us  of  the  germ.  The  bacil- 
lustuberculosisofKoch,  and  later  the  rftaphylococeus- 
pyogeneseaureus  and  last  the  cocco-bacillus.  The  im- 
portance of  this  combination  bacillustuberculosissta- 
phylococcuspyogenesaureuscoccobacillus  cannot  be  over- 
estimated, nor  can  it  b'e  fully  appreciated  except  by 
the  disciples  of  Koch. 

Dr.  Wyman  is  Supervising  Surgeon  General,  U.  S. 
Marine  Hospital  Service,  and  after  explaining(  ?)  how 
the  germ  enters  the  body,  the  doctor  says  regarding 
the  spread  of  disease,  that  rats  are  the  most  probable 
means  of  conveyance.  Then  Dr.  Wyman  himself  asks 
the  stupendous  question:  "How  is  the  disease  con- 
veyed from  rat  to  rat?" 

The  doctor  proceeds  to  answer  his  own  question. 

Regarding  this  grave  problem  the  doctor  solemnly 
declares:  "It  is  very  possible  that  the  fleas  which  in- 
fest rats,  and  which  notoriously  leave  their  bodies  as 
soon  as  the  cadavers  become  cold  after  death,  may,  by 
their  bites  infect  other  rats." 

Fleas,  beside  the  germs,  the  bacteriologists  can  in- 
form us  regarding  fleas,  that  order  of  insects  known 
as  SepJionoptera,  and  especially  the  variety  Pulex 
iritans. 

Of  course  there  are  many  other  varieties.  The  Pulex 
canis,  Pulex  felis  domestica,  sand  fleas,  sand  hoppers, 
jiggers,  etc. 

It  is  said  these  pellucid  parasites  are  armed  with  an 
apparatus  called  the  suctorial  proboscis,  or  something 
like  that.  We  admit  that  we  possess  but  a  limited 


12  MICROBES   AXD   HEALTH. 

knowledge  of  the  histological  anatomy  of  the  flea,  nor 
is  it  necessary,  for  the  bacteriologists,  armed  with  their 
test  tubes,  culture  media,  incubators  and  microscopes, 
•can  tell  us  all  about  the  proboscis  suctorialous,  aye 
more,  it  was  their  penetrating  eye  and  revolving  brain 
that  first  saw  the  elements  of  health  in  the  secretions 
•of  that  long-whiskered  animal  so  frequently  mentioned 
in  the  books  of  Moses,  and  who  first  breathed  the  words 
Robert's  Lymph. 

But  to  return  to  Doctor  Wyman  and  his  flea.  The 
•doctor  says  one  has  but  to  reflect  upon  the  vast  amount 
of  research,  thought  and  labor  of  which  he  is  the  ex- 
ponent, and  the  misery,  disaster  and  death  which  would 
•otherwise  follow,  to  appreciate  the  value  of  bacteriology. 

Fearing  the  reader  may  not  fully  understand  or  ap- 
preciate the  claims  of  bacteriology,  let  us  quote  Doctor 
Wyman  again.  He  says  fleas  first  distribute  disease 
among  rats,  and  the  rats  convey  the  disease  to  man. 

Is  it  plain  now? 

Or  is  it  still  a  mystery,  how  capable  men  like  Doctor 
AVyman  and  other  bacteriologists  can  spend  their  time 
among  fleas,  rats,  guinea  pigs,  test  tubes  and  other 
appliances  utterly  worthless  in  the  diagnosis  or  treat- 
ment of  disease  ? 

In  his  rational  treatment  of  disease,  fifteenth  edition, 
page  4-5,  the  well  known  Charles  Marchand,  chemist 
of  New  York  City,  says: 

"It  is,  perhaps,  to  be  deplored  that  all  later  investi- 
gations seem  to  have  thrown  some  doubt  on  the  value 
of  positive  testimony  in  bacteriology.  Most  physicians 
had  come  to  accept  the  conclusions  that  if  after  making 


GERMS.  13- 

a  proper  culture,  the  germs  were  found,  that  this  fact 
alone  was  positive  proof  of  the  presence  of  the  disease, 
but  that  on  the  other  hand,  so  much  reliance  could  not 
be  placed  upon  negative  evidence,  for  sometimes  the 
disease  existed  when  no  germs  could  be  found." 

Sepsis  and  Asepsis. 

While  the  author  is  not  a  believer  in  the  germ  cau- 
sation of  disease,  he  is  a  firm  believer  in  Sepsis  and 
Asepsis,  because  he  realizes  the  dangers  lurking  in 
filth,  and  appreciates  the  benefits  of  cleanliness.  He 
believes  that  absolute  cleanliness  is  not  only  neces- 
sary in  operative  surgery,  but  also  in  the  every-day  lives 
of  the  people.  This  means  pure  water,  fresh  air  and 
sunshine;  it  means  pure  food  and  a  clean  kitchen;  it 
means  bathing,  the  prevention  of  putrefactive  changes, 
etc. 

Isolation  and  Disinfection. 

Again,  while  the  author  is  not  a  believer  in  the  germ 
causation  of  disease,  he  is  emphatically  in  favor  of 
isolating  every  infectious  case.  Strict  quarantine  reg- 
ulations should  be  practised  with  every  disease  that  is 
"ketching."  Carbolic  acid,  a  solution  of  lime  in  water, 
or  other  antiseptics  should  be  freely  used,  while  fresh 
air  and  sunshine  should  be  admitted  in  abundance. 
It  seems  hardly  necessary  to  add  that  mechanical  clean- 
liness in  the  form  of  soap  and  water  is  entitled  to* 
every  encouragement.  This  is  as  true  in  health  as  in 
sickness.  In  fact  if  as  much  care  was  given  to  health 
as  has  been  lavished  upon  disease,  the  latter  would 
vanish,  and  decay  would  be  death's  only  victim. 


14  MICROBES    AND   HEALTH. 

Bacteriologists  claim  that  germs  are  the  cause  of  dis- 
ease. The  author  denies  that  claim,  and  in  support  of 
his  position  wishes  first,  to  consider: 

What  is  a  Germ? 

All  material  substance  is  called  matter.  There  are 
different  kinds  of  matter,  animal,  mineral,  vegetable. 
ua-eous,  etc.  All  living  matter  is  composed  of  little 
particles  called  cells,  built  one  upon  another. 

Although  microscopic  in  size,  cells  are  composed  of 
different  elements  in  the  form  of  a  gelatinous  substance 
called  protoplasm.  Nothing  is  known  regarding  the 
chemistry  of  a  cell,  or  how  it  is  that  the  elementary 
particles  are  led  to  assume  the  form  of  a  cell.  Most 
cells  are  about  eighty  per  cent  water  and  twenty  per 
cent  solid  matter.  Embedded  in  the  protoplasm  of  the 
cell  is  a  small  body  called  the  nucleus.  The  nucleus 
is  the  center  from  which  intelligence  is  directed. 

A  cell,  any  cell,  may  be  compared  to  a  seed.  A  cell 
grows,  divides  and  multiplies  in  favorable  surround- 
ings, a  seed  does  the  same.  "A  cell  is  the  smallest  ele- 
ment of  an  organized  body  capable  of  independent  mo- 
tion." It  is  the  primary  element  or  unit  that  germin- 
ates into  a  thing  or  being.  According  to  the  present 
teaching,  a  germ  is  a  vegetable  cell,  while  an  animal 
cell  is  not  a  germ,  yet  a  living  animal  cell  is  really  just 
as  much  a  germ  as  a  vegetable  cell. 

Any  cell  that  is  capable  of  reproduction  may  be 
called  a  germ;  the  term  cannot  be  confined  to  those 
cells  or  germs  which  are  found  in  the  body  during  dis- 
ease, and  which  take  no  part  in  the  body  structure. 


GERMS.  15 

Cells  may  be  called  germs  because  they  have  the  power 
to  germinate,  grow,  and  develop  new  life.  The  term 
cell  and  germ  may  be  used  interchangeably. 

It  is  understood,  of  course,  that  an  animal  or  vege- 
table cell  and  those  cells  floating  in  air  and  water  are 
not  alike,  yet  each  answers  to  the  same  definition,  and 
each  may  be  called  a  germ.  They  differ  because  the 
Divine  architect  has  assigned  to  each  a  different  power 
or  part  in  the  world's  economy. 

All  living  matter,  animal  or  vegetable,  originates  in 
a  single  cell  or  germ,  while  vast  numbers  constitute  the 
more  developed  structure,  so  arranged  as  to  form  the 
different  organs  or  parts.  The  cells  constituting  the 
human  body  vary  from  one  one-hundred-and-twenty- 
fif  th  to  one  five-thousandth  of  an  inch  in  diameter.  As 
just  explained,  cells  or  germs  are  concerned  in  all  the 
processes  of  life.  They  influence  the  necessary  change 
in  matter  before  its  absorption  into  living  organisms, 
and  they  constitute  the  organism  after  it  is  formed. 
To-day  a  cell,  any  cell  or  germ,  may  aid  in  the  forma- 
tion of  organic  life,  to-morrow  it  may  be  destroyed  and 
its  elements  aid  in  the  formation  of  a  cell  or  germ 
which  later  may  be  found  in  disease. 

There  are  all  grades  and  conditions  of  these  cells  or 
germs,  old  and  young,  large  and  small,  healthy  and 
unhealthy.  They  are  continually  being  born  and  con- 
tinually dying.  There  is  no  dividing  line  between 
them. 

All  the  varied  scenes  in  nature  are  caused  by  these 
germ  cells,  which  are  constantly  changing,  constantly 


16  MICROBES   AND   HEALTH. 

undergoing  transformation,  from  one  thing  or  being 
to  another.  The  result  of  such  changes  supports  the 
living  and  reduces  the  dead.  It  liberates  the  elements 
after  life  is  extinct,  thus  permitting  them  to  again 
enter  into  active  form.  This  is  but  a  process  of  fer- 
mentation; it  is  a  chemical  change  where  something 
new  is  being  produced.  All  changes  that  take  place 
in  organic  matter  are  through  the  medium  of  these 
little  germ  cells ;  other  changes  are  produced  by  chem- 
icals, but  with  these  we  have  little  to  do  except  for 
mechanical  purposes. 

The  soil  is  the  great  medium  of  exchange  through 
which  minerals  or  chemicals  find  their  way  into  organic 
structures,  first  supplying  the  various  plant  foods,  and 
from  them  to  the  animal.  The  changes  produced  by 
chemicals,  like  those  produced  by  the  germ  cells,  are 
also  a  process  of  fermentation. 

Fermentation. 

To  get  a  better  understanding  of  fermentation,  it 
may  be  stated  that  fermentation  is  the  splitting  up,, 
or  separating  the  parts  or  elements  of  a  substance, 
any  substance,  and  the  formation  of  new  ones.  These 
changes  are  taking  place  constantly  both  in  the  animal 
and  in  the  vegetable  kingdoms,  and  even  the  granite 
rock  falls  and  crumbles  to  dust.  "Throughout  all  na- 
ture there  is  a  ceaseless  change.  The  water  we  drink 
and  the  food  we  eat  have  been  used  thousands  of  times 
before,  and  will  again  pass  on  in  their  endless  round 
to  develop  other  forms  and  new  life.  We  are  but  parts 
of  a  great  system,  and  the  elements  we  use  are  not  our 


GEKMS.  17 

own,  for  in  nature  all  is  common.  Those  elements 
of  which  our  bodies  are  formed  a  few  months  ago  may 
have  waved  in  the  forest  tree,  or  in  the  field  as  grain, 
may  have  frozen  on  Arctic  snows,  bleached  on  torrid 
plains,  beautified  the  poet's  brain,  or  become  beef  on 
the  butcher's  block,  to  strengthen  the  blacksmith's 
arm."  All  this  is  but  a  process  of  fermentation. 

A  plant  selects  and  absorbs  certain  elements  from 
the  soil,  reforms  and  fits  them  into  a  part  of  its  own 
structure;  dead  or  inert  matter  becomes  living  matter; 
that  is  fermentation,  and  is  produced  by  the  little 
germ  cells  which  constitute  the  plant.  By  the  action 
of  certain  germ  cells,  a  dead  body  is  decomposed;  the 
complex  organism  is  reduced  to  simpler  forms  or  ele- 
ments ;  that  is  fermentation,  though  putrefaction  is  the 
term  usually  applied  to  fermentation  of  dead  matter, 
but  this,  too,  is  caused  by  these  little  germ  cells. 

Examining  these  changes  more  closely  it  may  be 
stated  that  a  seed,  any  seed,  consists  essentially  of  two 
substances,  starch  and  gluten,  in  which  is  contained  a 
little  germ  cell.  Both  the  starch  and  gluten  are  in- 
soluble in  water,  yet  both  are  needed  to  support  the 
germ  cell  in  its  process  of  development,  and  through 
the  medium  of  the  warm  moist  earth,  nature  has  pro- 
vided that  a  chemical  change  shall  take  place.  The 
gluten  is  first  converted  into  a  substance  called  diastase, 
and  the  diastase  has  the  power  of  converting  the  starch 
into  glucose  or  grape  sugar;  and  as  the  change  con- 
tinues the  sugar  breaks  up  into  alcohol,  carbonic  acid 
gas  and  water,  which  aid  in  supplying  nourishment 
until  the  little  germ,  through  a  process  of  division,  can 


18  MICROBES    AXI)    HEALTH. 

reach  down  into  the  earth  and  form  a  root,  after  which 
it  is  able  to  care  for  itself.  This  change  is  but  a  pro- 
cess of  fermentation.  We  see  something  new  has  been 
produced.  The  gluten  is  converted  into  diastase  and 
the  starch  into  alcohol,  and  a  germ  cell  has  developed 
into  a  plant  or  tree.  Undoubtedly  there  are  other  germ 
cells  in  the  soil  which,  acting  as  a  ferment,  aid  in  the 
process  by  producing  certain  changes  in  such  elements 
of  the  soil  as  are  needed  to  nourish  the  plant.  These 
•changes  render  the  elements  in  a  condition  to  be  more 
readily  taken  up  by  the  plant  tissues. 

In  the  Washington  Times  of  January  27,  1901,  that 
eminent  authority,  Dr.  William  Osier,  M.  D.,  F.  R.  S., 
professor  of  medicine  in  the  Johns  Hopkins  University, 
Baltimore,  says: 

"Quite  astonishing  is  the  discovery  that  within  the 
knobs  of  peas  and  beans  live  bacteria  which  by  split- 
ting up  mineral  salts  containing  nitrogen  and  by  ab- 
sorbing nitrogen  from  the  air,  give  it  over  to  the  plant 
so  that  it  is  enabled  to  grow  luxuriantly  whereas,  with- 
out their  presence  the  tiller  of  the  soil  might  fertilize 
the  soil  in  vain.  It  is  quite  possible  that  not  alone 
peas  and  beans,  but  all  grasses,  plants  and  trees  de- 
pend upon  the  presence  of  such  germs  for  their  very 
existance,  which  in  turn  supply  man  and  animals  with 
their  means  of  existance.  Hence  we  see  that  these 
nitrifying  bacteria,  as  they  are  called,  if  swept  out  of 
existance,  would  be  the  cause  of  cessation  of  all  life 
upon  the  globe.  And  arguing  backward,  one  promi- 
nent authority  states  it  as  his  belief  that  the  first  of 
all  life  on  this  earth  were  those  lowly  forms  of  plants 


GEEMS.  19 

(cells  or  germs)  which  only  required  the  nitrogen  of 
the  air  or  the  salts  to  enable  them  to  multiply"  (Dar- 
win's theory). 

Dr.  Osier  also  says :  "The  study  of  the  life  of  these 
diminutive  plants  (germs)  excites  the  wonder  of  those 
who  make  observations  upon  them.  It  is  truly  marvel- 
ous to  knowr  that  these  bacteria  can  accomplish  in  their 
short  lives  of  possibly  a  few  hours  or  days,  feats  which 
would  baffle  the  cleverest  of  chemists  if  given  years  of 
a  lifetime  to  work  upon. 

"They  give  to  the  farmer  the  good  quality  of  his 
crops,  to  the  dairyman  superior  butter  and  cheese;  they 
assist  in  a  large  measure  in  freeing  our  rivers  and  lakes 
of  harmful  pollution/' 

In  bread  baking  the  same  changes  take  place  as  that 
described  in  the  growth  of  the  seed.  Flour  consists 
mostly  of  gluten  and  starch,  with  a  little  water  and 
sugar.  In  making  bread,  yeast  is  generally  added,  and 
this  takes  the  place  of  the  diastase  in  the  seed.  Yeast 
converts  the  sugar  into  alcohol,  carbonic  acid  gas  and 
water.  It  also  acts  upon  the  starch  and  converts  some 
of  it  into  sugar,  so  that  the  per  cent  of  sugar  remains 
about  the  same.  There  is  a  loss  of  about  five  per  cent 
of  starch.  When  milk  emptyings  are  used,  there  is 
first  a  mixture  of  milk  and  flour;  this  kept  at  blood 
heat  rapidly  develops  yeast  and  the  result  is  the  same. 
In  baking  bread  the  alcohol  and  some  of  the  water 
evaporate,  and  the  carbonic  acid  gas  in  its  efforts  to 
escape  lifts  or  raises  the  tenacious  dough,  and  thus  the 
bread  becomes  light.  Bread  that  is  well  baked  still 
contains  forty-five  per  cent  of  water. 


20  MICROBES   AXD   HEALTH. 

In  bread  baking  in  London,  alone,  in  the  year  1858, 
it  was  estimated  that  over  three  hundred  thousand  gal- 
lons of  alcohol  were  evolved  and  lost. 

Some  restrict  and  confine  fermentation  to  the  de- 
composition of  non-proteid  substances;  i.  e.,  those  not 
containing  albumen.  Starch  and  sugar  are  examples. 
These  differ  from  grain  and  flour  as  they  have  no  power 
within  themselves  to  undergo  change,  but  must  be  in- 
fluenced by  another  substance,  and  this  other  substance 
is  called  a  ferment.  Yeast,  already  mentioned,  is  an 
example  of  ferment  with  which  all  are  familiar. 
Yeast  was  employed  as  "leaven"  as  early  as  the  year 
1892  B.  C.  The  absence  of  yeast  or  leaven  constituted 
the  peculiarity  of  the  bread  used  at  the  passover,  B.  C. 
1491.  Yeast  is  composed  of  living  organisms  in  the 
form  of  little  cells  or  germs,  about  one  three-thou- 
sandth of  an  inch  in  diameter.  They  are  germs  just 
as  much  as  the  so  called  germs  found  in  disease.  Both 
are  vegetable  organisms  and  under  the  proper  condi- 
tions of  heat  and  moisture  manifest  life  and  produce 
fermentation. 

The  tissue-change  going  on  in  the  human  body,  re- 
pair and  waste,  is  a  process  of  fermentation,  and  is 
carried  on  through  the  influence  of  the  little  germ  cells 
of  which  the  body  is  formed.  It  is  sometimes  called 
oxidation,  because  the  red  blood-corpuscles  or  cells 
which  float  in  the  blood-stream  in  great  numbers,  in 
their  passage  through  the  lungs,  absorb  oxygen  from 
the  air  we  breathe,  and  through  the  circulation  it  is 
carried  to  all  parts  of  the  body,  and  absorbed  by  the 
cells,  which  constitute  the  different  organs  and  tissues. 


GERMS.  21 

This  aids  in  giving  life,  force  and  energy;  aids  in  the 
tissue-change,  and  in  the  production  of  heat. 

The  souring  of  milk  is  another  example  of  fermenta- 
tion. Milk  contains  about  four  per  cent  of  casein,  or 
milk-albumin;  this  is  held  in  solution  by  a  trace  of 
alkaline  salt,  and  is  quickly  precipated  by  the  addition 
of  an  acid.  The  germs  which  are  floating  through  the 
air  and  which  are  everywhere  present,  inhabit  the  milk 
and  produce  the  acid  by  converting  the  lactose,  or 
milk-sugar  into  lactic  acid.  This  precipitates  the 
casein,  or  milk-albumin,  in  the  form  of  curd.  It  is 
from  this  curd  that  cheese  is  made.  It  also  contains 
the  fat  from  which  butter  is  made.  If  it  is  not  all 
worked  out  of  butter  it  furnishes  nourishment  for 
other  cell-germs,  and  these,  acting  as  a  ferment,  pro- 
duce butyric  and  other  acids,  which  make  butter  rancid. 

In  bread  baking,  yeast-cells  acted  as  the  ferment 
and  converted  the  starch  into  alcohol  and  carbonic  acid. 
In  the  souring  of  milk,  other  cells  floating  through 
the  air  acted  as  a  ferment  and  converted  the  lactose  or 
milk-sugar  into  lactic  acid.  So  also  when  some  cells 
or  tissues  in  the  human  body  die  from  lack  of  nourish- 
ment, as  in  disease,  germ  cells  that  are  floating  in 
the  air  and  which  inhabit  the  human  system  act  as  a 
ferment,  and  by  their  power  to  produce  change  they 
convert  such  dead  tissue  into  gases,  pus,  etc.,  so  that 
it  may  be  discharged  and  the  system  relieved.  This  is 
a  wise  provision  and  a  natural  law,  but  the  bacteri- 
ologists claim  that  these  germs  are  the  cause  of  nearly 
all  suffering,  disease  and  death.  They  forget  that  dis- 
ease is  caused  by  the  accumulation  of  waste  matter  in 


22  MICROBES   AND    HEALTH. 

the  system.  This  accumulation  of  waste  results  from 
indigestion  and  lack  of  elimination.  The  waste  acts 
as  a  poison  and  disease  follows. 

There  are  no  poisons  known  in  the  realm  of  bacter- 
iology to  compare  with  the  natural  waste  of  the  human 
body.  If  a  healthy  man  was  compelled  to  breathe  the 
poisonous  carbonic  acid  given  off  from  his  own  lungs, 
death  would  be  almost  instantaneous.  Urea  eliminated 
by  the  kidneys,  if  retained,  would  cause  death  in  a  few 
hours,  yet  the  bacteriologist  would  have  us  believe  that 
the  only  danger  is  to  be  found  in  their  so  called  germs. 

All  these  changes  and  these  poisons  are  the  results 
or  effects  of  natural  law.  The  carbonic  acid  given  off 
by  the  lungs  is  taken  up  by  the  vegetable  kingdom,  and 
the  oxygen  given  off  by  the  vegetable  kingdom  is  taken 
up  by  the  lungs.  In  both  cases  the  change  is  pro- 
duced by  little  germ  cells  of  which  the  structures  are 
formed,  and  while  these  changes  are  taking  place  in  liv- 
ing matter,  other  germs  influence  changes  in  dead  mat- 
ter, and  the  elements  of  dead  tissue  are  given  back 
to  support  the  living.  Germs  were  created  for  this 
purpose.  This  is  self  evident,  otherwise  they  would 
not  be  evenrwhere  present  and  would  not  have  the 
power  to  produce  fermentation,  but  nature  foresaw  and 
prepared  to  meet  these  changes,  hence  the  power  of  the 
human  system  to  destroy  germs  and  eliminate  poisons. 
As  germs  are  the  primary  forms  of  all  living  matter, 
they  may  be  compared  to  a  seed,  as  already  mentioned. 
If  all  germ  life  should  be  destroyed,  all  the  higher 
forms  of  life  would  cease  to  exist,  all  animal  and 
vegetable  life  would  rapidly  pass  away,  perish,  and 


GERMS.  23 

soon  there  would  not  be  a  living  thing  to  inhabit  the 
earth. 

The  so  called  germs  may  be  subjected  to  great  ex- 
tremes of  heat  and  cold,  and  afterwards  will  grow  vig- 
orously in  favorable  surroundings.  So  also  a  seed  is 
capable  of  resisting  great  extremes  of  dry  heat  and 
cold,  and  will  afterwards  grow  vigorously  in  favorable 
surroundings,  for  nature  had  designed  that  both  shall 
live.  Moist  heat,  as  boiling  water,  will  destroy  germs; 
it  will  also  destroy  a  seed,  but  nature  does  not  furnish 
boiling  water  or  any  other  form  of  moist  heat.  Germs 
are  not  active  and  do  not  multiply  when  exposed  to 
great  extremes  of  heat  and  cold;  a  seed  is  not  active 
and  will  not  grow  under  these  conditions. 

Where  did  germs  come  from?  They  are  the  pri- 
mary forms  of  all  living  matter,  hence  we  may  inquire 
where  matter  came  from. 

How  do  germs  produce  fermentation  ?  They  furnish 
an  enzym  or  ferment  which  has  the  power  of  separa- 
ting the  elements  of  dead  tissue ;  i.  e.,  the  power  of  pro- 
ducing fermentation,  the  same  as  the  yeast  cells  in 
bread  baking.  The  attraction  which  naturally  exists 
between  all  forms  of  matter  is  strongest  in  the  living, 
hence  the  power  of  living  germs  to  absorb  nourishment 
by  attracting  the  elements  of  dead  germs  or  dead  mat- 
ter. This  is  called  "vital  force,"  and  it  is  by  reason 
of  such  forces,  attraction  and  repulsion,  that  such  a 
torrent  of  ceaseless  changes  is  made  possible.  These 
changes  support  the  living  by  liberating  the  elements 
of  the  dead.  It  is  by  this  plan,  and  through  the  me- 
dium of  these  little  germs,  that  the  Divine  Intelli- 


24  MICROBES    AND    HEALTH. 

gence  carries  on  the  great  system  of  the  universe,  and 
it  is  for  this  reason  that  germs  are  everywhere  present. 
Earth,  air  and  water  are  filled  with  them.  So  is  the  hu- 
man body,  and  if  through  accident,  injury  or  inflam- 
mation, the  brain,  heart,  lungs  or  other  organs  become 
diseased,  and  through  the  effects  of  such  disease  there 
are  some  cells  or  tissues  destroyed,  germs  are  present 
to  aid  in  liberating  such  tissue,  and  they  do  this  by 
their  power  to  produce  fermentation.  This  separates 
the  elements  or  component  parts  that  they  may  be 
eliminated,  so  that  each  may  add  its  mite  in  the  pro- 
duction or  formation  of  something  new.  Nowhere  in 
the  field  of  nature  is  there  room  for  indolence  or  idle- 
ness. 

These  brief  illustrations  are  given,  not  for  the  pur- 
pose of  defining  fermentation,  but  to  remind  the  reader 
that  all  changes  in  life  or  after  death  are  caused  by 
these  little  germ  cells.  Some  draw  dividing  lines, 
make  separations,  and  teach  a  difference  between  oxi- 
dation, fermentation  and  putrefaction,  yet  there  is  no 
difference.  It  is  one  continual  change,  and  every  ele- 
ment in  nature  is  ever  active  in  doing  its  part,  and  all 
depend  iipon  the  lower  forms  of  life,  working  to  pro- 
duce the  higher.  In  a  word,  the  whole  process  of  evo- 
lution is  carried  on  by  these  little  germ  cells.  They 
are  the  medium  through  which  all  nature  has  been 
produced,  and  it  would  be  im reasonable  to  believe  that 
the  Creative  Power  had  so  mistaken  His  plans  as  to 
have  this  medium  destructive  to  man. 

Many  people  believe  in  evolution;  that  is,  that  all 


GERMS.  25 

forms  of  life  have  been  and  are  being  derived  by  the 
gradual  modification  of  earlier  forms.  This  theory 
also  tells  us  that  all  living  matter  is  composed  of  little 
cells  or  germs.  It  also  assumes  that  there  is  a  God 
back  of  all,  working  out  results  along  unalterable  lines 
of  natural  law,  and  this  is  certainly  true  to  some  ex- 
tent, for  no  one  will  deny  that  all  structures,  animal 
or  vegetable,  and  that  the  bodies  of  every  human  being 
are  formed  of  minute  organisms  called  cells  as  briefly 
described,  and  that  it  is  by  a  division  and  multiplica- 
tion of  such  cells  that  every  structure  is  built.  In 
man,  beginning  as  a  single  parent  cell,  it  divides  and 
reforms,  ever  tending  from  the  lower  to  the  higher, 
until  the  central  nervous  system  is  complete. 

According  to  this  teaching,  any  variety  of  organic 
matter  so  situated  as  to  develop  special  organs  will 
outlive  other  varieties,  because  "in  union  there  is 
strength."  This  is  Charles  Darwin's  "Natural  Selec- 
tion/' and  Herbert  Spencer's  "Survival  of  the  Fittest." 

Nature  has  designed  that  the  cells  constituting  the 
human  body  should  overcome  all  others  because  the 
human  body  is  the  highest  type  of  organic  structure, 
and  to  stop  short  of  the  highest  would  be  a  mistake, 
and  nature  does  not  make  mistakes. 

According  to  the  bacteriologists  but  very  few  of  these 
so  called  germs  are  poisonous.  They  admit  that  of  the 
countless  millions  present  on  every  hand  only  five  or 
six  varieties  are  dangerous,  yet  these  half  dozen  inno- 
cent and  defenseless  germs  are  used  as  a  basis  from 
which  volumes  have  been  written.  They  are  a  nucleus 


26  MICROBES   AND   HEALTH. 

from  whose  center  there  has  radiated  leucomaines* 
ptomains,  trouble,  anxiety,  visions,  worry,  fright,  infec- 
tion, contagion,  sickness,  disease  and  death. 

Germs  do  not  signify  so  much  after  all.  Their  pres- 
ence or  absence  amounts  to  little,  except  to  those  who 
preside  with  tireless  and  sleepless  watchfulness  over  the- 
test  tubes  and  incubators. 

It  has  been  stated  that  a  germ  is  only  a  vegetable 
cell;  that  the  term  cell  and  germ  may  be  used  inter- 
changeably, yet  because  the  word  germ  has  become  so- 
fixed  in  the  public  mind,  the  term  will  be  used  in  the 
succeeding  pages  of  this  chapter. 

While  germs  cannot  affect  healthy  tissue,  they  can 
and  do  affect  tissue  that  is  destroyed  by  disease,  be- 
cause if  such  tissue  were  allowed  to  remain  in  the  sys- 
tem it  would  act  as  an  irritant  like  any  other  foreign 
body.  Again,  such  tissue  is  of  no  further  use  in  the 
system,  and  so  according  to  the  changes  that  take  place 
everywhere,  this  one  is  made  through  the  medium  of 
germs.  Their  influence  separates  the  elements  of  the 
dead  tissue,  some  in  the  form  of  gases,  while  some 
liquefies  in  the  form  of  pus.  This  is  nature's  plan  to 
aid  in  elimination.  If  in  the  lungs,  some  may  be 
expectorated;  if  in  other  parts,  an  abscess  may  form. 
The  surgeon  completes  his  operation,  and  sews  up  the 
wound.  A  few  days  later  an  abscess  is  discovered  fol- 
lowing one  of  the  stitches.  This  is  called  a  stitch 
abscess.  Then  the  surgeon  concludes  that  the  sutures 
used  were  not  sterile,  or  that  some  of  his  assistants  did 
not  have  their  hands  thoroughly  disinfected. 


GERMS.  27 

The  abscess  was  not  caused  by  germs,  but  the  system 
of  the  patient  was  unhealthy.  There  was  some  irri- 
tating substance  in  the  circulation,  resulting  from  re- 
tained waste  or  imperfect  digestion,  and  the  irritation 
would  naturally  produce  the  greatest  effect  wherever  _ 
there  was  least  resistance.  Resistance  was  least  where 
the  wound  was  made,  because  the  tissues  were  weak- 
ened by  the  operation.  The  irritation  was  greater 
than  the  weakened  cells  could  stand,  and  they  were  de- 
stroyed. The  germs  which  are  always  present  acting 
upon  these  dead  cells,  produced  fermentation  and  the 
dead  tissue  was  converted  into  pus,  hence  the  abscess. 

The  disinfectants  or  antiseptics  referred  to  could  not 
have  prevented  the  stitch  abscess,  and  the  level-headed 
surgeon  understands  that  if  antiseptics  were  used 
strong  enough  to  destroy  all  the  surrounding  tissue, 
many  germs  would  still  remain  vigorous,  because  they 
were  designed  to  resist  disinfectants,  acids,  alkalies, 
heat,  cold,  etc.  Animal  tissue  was  not,  because  it  never 
comes  in  contact  with  them  except  by  accident,  but 
animal  tissue  was  designed  to  resist  germs  because 
germs  are  present  always,  and  it  is  well  known  that 
healthy  tissue  can  destroy  germs  with  the  greatest 
ease.  A  few  years  ago,  bacteriologists  flushed  the 
healthiest  wounds  with  antiseptics.  To-day,  they  have 
so  modified  their  practice  as  to  restrict  all  antiseptics 
in  non-infected  wounds.  Bacteriologists  tell  us  about 
aseptic  operations;  i.  e.,  operations  free  from  germs; 
operations  in  which  germ  action  is  entirely  excluded, 
yet  this  is  impossible,  for  the  dressings  may  be  boiled 
and  baked,  and  the  operator  hooded  and  masked,  yet 


38  MICROBES   AND    IlKALTH. 

the  atmosphere  will  defy  him  and  germs  enter  the 
wound  just  the  same.  While  it  is  true  that  cleanli- 
ness is  necessary  within  the  bounds  of  reason  and  com- 
mon sense,  it  is  also  true  that  there  is  nothing  more 
silly  than  scrubbing  with  chemicals,  acids  and  alkalies, 
boiling  bandages,  instruments,  appliances,  etc.  This 
practice  is  carried  to  such  extremes  in  some  cases  that 
the  operator  becomes  an  object  of  pity. 

The  question  may  be  asked,  if  germs  do  not  cause 
•disease  why  use  antiseptics?  Animal  tissue  contains 
oxygen,  carbon,  nitrogen,  sulphur,  phosphorus,  hydro- 
gen, etc.,  and  after  death  the  fermentation  or  change 
produced  by  germ  action  separates  these  elements  and 
the  oxygen  unites  with  the  carbon  to  form  carbonic 
acid,  while  the  hydrogen  divides  itself  between  the 
nitrogen,  sulphur  and  phosphorus  and  forms  ammonia 
with  sulphurated  and  phosphurated  Irydrogen.  These 
gases  give  offensive  odor.  These  substances  are  irri- 
tating. Such  irritating  matter  always  results  from 
decomposing  animal  tissue,  and  is  injurious  to  the  sur- 
rounding structures.  A  purulent  or  unhealthy  wound 
contains  these  organic  poisons,  corrosive  substances  and 
poisonous  gases,  and  it  is  these  acrid  substances  that 
•are  dangerous.  Antiseptics  are  valuable  because  they 
.-antagonize  the  action  of  this  decomposing  matter,  and 
thus  reinforce  healthy  tissue  and  bring  about  whole- 
some influences  to  the  structures  that  are  yet  sound. 

With  the  disappearance  of  the  dead  and  dying  tissue 
the  germs  disappear  also,  not  because  the  antiseptics 
have  destroyed  them,  but  because  their  food  supply  or 
nourishment  is  gone  and  they  cannot  live  in  healthy 


GERMS.  29' 

tissue.  In  most  cases  the  natural  resistance  is  suffici- 
ent to  resist  the  morbid  influences  of  putrefaction,  but 
the  reinforcement  furnished  by  the  antiseptics  aids  m 
bringing  about  favorable,  results  at  an  earlier  date. 

Germs  do  not  cause  disease,  and  if  they  ever  carry 
infection  or  poison  from  a  diseased  body,  they  act 
simply  as  a  medium;  i.  e.,  having  been  in  contact  with 
diseased  tissue  they  may  carry  disease  the  same  as  a 
dirty  towel  or  dirty  instrument. 

As  stated,  germs  in  varying  numbers  and  all  varie- 
ties inhabit  earth,  air  and  water,  except  upon  high 
mountains,  above  the  line  of  perpetual  snow,  or  on  mid- 
ocean  far  away  from  land  and  ship.  The  air  which 
surrounds  high  mountain  peaks,  or  on  mid-ocean,  con- 
tains no  life,  hence  nature  does  not  concentrate  her 
forces  at  these  points.  This  is  another  evidence  of  the 
economy  of  nature. 

But  germs  are  found  wherever  life  is  found.  The- 
air  we  breathe  is  swarming  with  germs ;  so  is  the  water 
we  drink;  so  is  the  soil  upon  which  we  tread.  They 
cover  all  objects  exposed  to  air;  they  may  be  found 
everywhere  upon  the  surface  of  the  human  body;  they 
inhabit  all  mucous  membrane  that  is  exposed  to  air. 
The  mouth,  stomach,  digestive  tract  and  the  air-tubes 
of  the  lungs,  all  contain  germs.  It  cannot  be  other- 
wise for  they  are  taken  in  with  every  breath,  but  nature- 
has  provided  for  this  by  rendering  the  fluids  of  the- 
body  capable  of  destroying  germ  life. 

Can  germs  overcome  animal  tissue  and  produce  dis- 
ease? The  thought  needs  no  argument.  If  germs 
could  overcome  animal  tissue  the  human  race  would 


30  MICROBES    AND    HEALTH. 

soon  be  swept  from  the  face  of  the  earth.  Germs  that 
have  been  subjected  to  a  temperature  of  two  hundred 
und  forty-eight  degrees  F.  below  zero  by  means  of  liquid 
air  have  afterwards  been  found  to  grow  vigorously  at 
a  favorable  temperature.  Germs  will  also  resist  dry 
lioat  at  a  temperature  of  three  hundred  and  two  degrees 
F.  above  zero.  This  is  two  hundred  and  sixteen  de- 
grees below  freezing  and  ninety  degrees  higher  than 
"boiling  water.  This  statement  comes  from  the  bac- 
teriologists themselves,  and  may  be  proven  by  anyone 
who  cares  to  make  the  experiment. 

Does  not  their  power  to  resist  antiseptics,  to  resist 
such  extremes  of  heat  and  cold,  their  universal  pres- 
ence and  power  to  produce  fermentation,  prove  them 
the  medium  through  which  all  organic  progress  has 
T)een  made?  While  the  poor  deluded  germ-doctor  is 
taking  the  life  of  one  innocent  germ,  there  are  one 
liundred  million  swarming  about  his  head. 

I  have  endeavored  to  explain  in  a  brief,  practical 
way  the  relation  which  germs  bear  to  the  material 
world,  and  to  the  human  race. 

Now  let  us  listen  to  the  bacteriologists,  men  who, 
since  the  beginning  of  the  germ  theory — almost  thirty 
years  ago — have  been  studying  germs,  raising  germs  in 
test  tubes  and  incubators,  and  then  injecting  them  into 
ranimals,  that  they  might  have  a  better  opportunity  of 
•studying  their  action. 

Surely  they  ought  to  know  all  about  it.     Let  us  see. 

The  following  is  taken  from  a  leading  medical  jour- 
nal, the  Alkaloidal  Clinic  of  September,  '99.  In  this 
article  the  editors  have  kindly  given  us  the  views  as 


GEJLMS.  31 

•expressed  by  nearly  thirty  leading  germ  theorists ;  those 
of  this  country  and  Europe.  These  distinguished  bac- 
teriologists have  had  all  the  opportunities  the  world 
affords  for  studying  their  theories.  They  decided  years 
ago  that  germs  caused  disease;  they  also  decided  that 
antitoxins  and  other  preventives  manufactured  by 
themselves  would  kill  the  germs  and  cure  the  patient. 
They  decided  that,  if  their  antitoxins  were  taken  before 
disease  gained  a  foothold  the  system  may  be  rendered 
immune;  i.  e.,  proof  against  attack. 

In  the  following  article  is  the  explanation(  ?),  show- 
ing how  immunity  is  produced.  They  have  been  in  the 
immunity  business  for  half  a  lifetime,  and  it  is  but 
reasonable  to  suppose  that  their  knowledge  of  germs 
and  disease  corresponds  to  their  understanding  of  im- 
munity and  its  cause. 

Here  are  twenty-nine  physicians  with  international 
reputations  as  bacteriologists  trying  to  explain  how 
immunity  is  produced,  yet  no  two  of  them  agree.  The 
Clinic  article  is  not  given  in  full,  yet  there  are  twenty- 
nine  quotations  giving  the  views  of  twenty-nine  investi- 
gators. 

Immunity. 

"Immunity  is  due  to  the  development  of  bactericidal 
products  in  the  tissues ;  to  a  lack  of  nourishment  in  the 
tissues;  to  the  development  of  nucleinic  acid;  to  the 
exhaustion  of  the  supply  of  pabulum  in  the  body;  to 
the  increasing  alkalinity  of  the  blood;  to  alexin;  to  ag- 
glutinin ;  to  immunizing  agents  stored  up ;  to  immuniz- 
ing agents  generated  on  the  spot.  Germ  invasion 


32  MICROBES    AXD    HEALTH. 

arouses  glandular  action  and  the  attack  is  quelled. 
We  know  little  of  antitoxin.  Antitoxin  develops  from 
the  body  and  not  from  the  bacteria ;  the  problem  differs 
with  each  organism  and  analogic  deductions  are  unsafe. 
There  may  be  other  explanations.  In  the  protoplasm 
of  the  toxiphoric  group  of  cells  the  antitoxin  is  the 
normal  constituent  that  binds  the  toxins  which  pre- 
exist in  the  protoplasm  (AHEM!).  Antitoxin  is  due 
to  the  transformation  of  the  toxins.  Sudden  death 
has  followed  antitoxin.  Antitoxin  is  produced  by  the 
body-cells;  animals  like  hens  have  no  cells  that  are 
susceptible  to  tetanus." 

From  this  it  is  understood  that  hens  do  not  have 
lockjaw.  How  about  roosters? 

"The  onset  of  disease  is  due  to  something  in  the 
germ;  the  duration  of  the  attack  is  due  to  something 
in  the  body.  The  toxins  arouse  glandular  action, 
which  should  quell  the  attack.  Disease  exhausts  the 
supply  of  pabulum  in  the  body;  the  agglutinin  will 
cause  the  germs  to  stick  together  so  that  the  alexin  can 
destroy  them.  An  emulsion  of  brains  will  cure  tetanus. 
Protection  exists  in  the  blood  in  a  negative  state;  is 
rendered  active  on  demand.  There  is  in  the  body 
some  adjustment  of  forces  by  which  pathogenic  bac- 
teria are  antagonized  and  finally  disposed  of.  Still  the 
whole  subject  is  one  of  nature's  tantalizing  and  well 
fortified  secrets." 

Such  a  juggling  of  words  would  be  called  pure  de- 
lirium if  they  did  not  eminate  from  those  who  claim  to 
be  authority.  This  claim  is  supposed  to  entitle  them 
to  a  certain  amount  of  respect.  Let  us  make  a  prac- 


GERMS.  33 

tical  application  of  the  knowledge(  ?)  possessed  by  these 
theorizing  germ-specialists.  In  the  following  imagi- 
nary conversation  the  quotations  just  given  are  used 
by  the  doctor  in  answering  the  patient : 

"Doctor,  what  is  the  cause  of  my  sickness  ?" 

"In  disease  like  yours,  'the  problem  differs  with  each 
organism  and  analogic  deductions  are  unsafe;  the 
whole  subject  is  one  of  nature's  tantalizing  and  well 
fortified  secrets/  '' 

"Doctor,  do  you  think  I  will  be  sick  long?" 

"In  this  case,  'the  onset  is  due  to  something  in  the 
germ;  the  duration  of  the  attack  depends  upon  the 
resistance  of  the  body;  the  toxins  arouse  glandular  ac- 
tion which  should  quell  the  attack/  '' 

"Doctor,  what  is  your  treatment?" 

"I  think  the  disease  will  'exhaust  the  supply  of 
pabulum  in  the  body;  the  agglutinin  will  cause  the 
bacteria  to  stick  together  and  that  the  alexin  can  de- 
stroy them/  3: 

"Doctor,  do  you  use  antitoxin?" 

"  'We  know  little  of  antitoxin,  yet  there  is  in  the 
body  some  adjustment  of  forces  by  which  pathogenic 
bacteria  are  antagonized  and  finally  destroyed/  * 

"Doctor,  do  you  consider  antitoxin  safe?" 

"  'Sudden  death  has  followed  antitoxin,  yet  in  the 
protoplasm  of  the  toxiphoric  group  of  cells  the  anti- 
toxin is  the  normal  constituent  that  binds  the  toxin, 
which  pre-exists  in  the  protoplasm/ >: 

"Doctor,  can't  you  use  some  other  remedy  in  my 
case  ?" 

"  'Yes,  an  emulsion  of  brains  has  the  power  to  neu- 

3 


34  MICROBES    AND    HEALTH. 

tralize  poison  and  cure  disease,  still  is  the  whole  sub- 
ject one  of  nature's  tantalizing  and  well  fortified 
secrets/  " 

Patients  are  reminded  that  bacterioligists  never  fur- 
nish brains. 

Look  out  for  the  toxiphoric  group  of  cells ! 

Poultry-raisers  should  not  feel  too  jubilant  because 
their  old  hens  are  excused  from  lockjaw,  for  the 
chickens  may  still  die  of  the  pip. 

The  bacteriologists  remind  us  of  the  story  of  the 
stage-driver  who,  after  receiving  much  praise  for  the 
fine  appearance  of  one  of  his  horses,  exclaimed :  "That 
'oss  ain't  so  good  as  he  looks;  he's  a  scientific  'oss." 
On  being  asked  to  explain  the  driver  said:  "A  scien- 
tific 'oss  is  one  as  thinks  he  knows  a  great  deal  more 
nor  he  does." 

We  are  also  reminded  of  the  old  negro  doctor  who 
was  fond  of  using  long  words,  and  who  frequently  used 
the  word  intertranssubstantiationableness.  One  day  a 
patient  said  to  him:  "Why,  doctor;  you  do  not  even 
know  the  meaning  of  that  word."  The  old  doctor  re- 
plied, "P'r'aps  not,  sah ;  p'r'aps  not ;  but  I  have  noticed 
when  in  doubtful  places,  sah,  that  I  have  used  that 
word  with  spontaneous  effect." 

We  have  just  listened  to  the  explanation  of  "immu- 
nity:" now,  let  us  listen  to  an  explanation  regarding 
the  cause  of  influenza.  Page  85,  Merks'  Archives  for 
February,  1899,  contains  the  following  quotation  from 
Doctor  Finkler,  a  prominent  germ  theorist.  Doctor 
Finkler  says:  "I  am  inclined  to  accept  the  views  of 
Doctor  Leichtenstcin,  that  there  exists  a  pandemic 


GERMS.  35 

influence  caused  by  the  Pfeiffer's  bacillus,  and  also  an 
epidemico-endemic  influenza  of  identical  nature,  which 
develops  after  the  pandemic  infection  has  run  its  course, 
being  caused  by  germs  left  over." 

Comment  is  unnecessary.  Undoubtedly  the  bacter- 
iologists dislike  to  use  so  many  technicalities  as  pre- 
sented in  Doctor  Finkler's  explanation(  ?),  yet  they 
find  it  necessary  when  they  wish  to  convey  a  mean- 
ing(?)  which  no  one  can  understand. 

Wonder  what  became  of  the  germs  "left  over  ?" 

To  get  a  clearer  understanding  of  what  this  theoriz- 
ing germ  specialist  is  telling  us,  let  us  remember  that 
an  "epidemic"  disease  is  one  that  spreads  rapidly 
through  a  community  where  it  does  not  usually  pre- 
vail; an  "endemic"  disease  is  one  continually  present 
in  a  community  and  dependent  upon  local  conditions; 
a  "pandemic"  disease  is  one  affecting  a  whole  country, 
but  this  investigator  says,  in  substance,  that  "grip  is 
a  pandemic,  epidemico-endemic  disease,"  and  "caused 
by  germs  left  over." 

We  can  understand  the  boy  who  said  he  wore  a 
wooden  leg  because  it  run  in  the  family;  we  can  under- 
stand the  noted  Philadelphia  doctor  who  instructed  his 
patient  to  take  a  teaspoonful  at  bedtime  if  unable  to 
sleep  in  water;  we  can  understand  why  a  bugler's  note 
never  comes  due,  but  we  cannot  understand  how  the 
same  germ  can  produce  so  many  diseases  at  one  and 
the  same  time. 

The  explanation  of  immunity  and  of  influenza,  as 
furnished  by  bacteriologists,  reminds  us  of  that  class 


36  MICROBES   AXD   HEALTH. 

of  gentlemen  sometimes  known  as  traveling  doctors. 
When  asked  to  explain  the  cause  of  disease  they  con- 
found their  hearers  with  high-sounding  words.  Many 
who  listen  do  not  understand  their  meaning,  but  they 
suppose  any  one  capable  of  using  such  language  must 
be  very  smart.  Their  explanation  of  disease  runs  some- 
thing like  this : 

"The  only  legitimate  manner  of  accounting  for  this 
very  rare  disease  is  the  physiological  defect  in  the  mem- 
branous system;  the  obtuseness  of  the  abdominal  ab- 
dicator  causes  the  cartilaginous  compressor  to  coagu- 
late into  the  diaphragm.,  and  this  depresses  the  duode- 
num into  the  flandango.  Now,  if  the  disease  were 
caused  by  the  vogatum  of  the  electricity  from  the  ex- 
tremities, the  tympanum  would  also  dissolve  into  the 
spiritual  sinctum,  and  the  olfactory  ossificator  would 
ferment  and  become  identical  with  the  pigmentum. 
But  as  this  is  not  the  case,  in  order  to  produce  this 
disease  the  spinal  rotundum  must  be  elevated  down  to 
the  spiritual  spero,  and  as  I  said  before,  in  order  to 
produce  this  very  rare  disease,  the  inferior  ligaments 
must  subtend  over  the  digitorum  sufficient  to  disorgan- 
ize the  stericoletum." 

Some  people  believe  bacteriology  is  a  powerful  aid 
in  preventing  as  well  as  curing  disease.  Let  us  in- 
quire what  the  germ-specialists  are  doing  for  diseased 
humanity  any  way?  Have  they  helped  mankind  to 
fight  disease?  Have  they  conquered  the  germ?  I? 
disease  less  malignant? 

For  twenty-five  years  bacteriologists  have  been  rais- 
ing germs  in  little  glass  tubes,  and  after  they  had  them 


GERMS.  37 

started  they  began  to  deluge  them  with  corrosive  sub- 
limate solution,  carbolic  acid  solution  and  all  other 
known  disinfectants.  They  froze  them,  dried  them, 
and  through  their  influence  the  country  has  spent 
millions  of  dollars  to  check  their  growth  and  toxicity. 

Did  they  succeed? 

"We  are  surrounded  by  bacteriologists  and  quarantine 
officials,  and  by  them  the  confines  of  civilization  are 
marked  off  with  a  line  of  formaldehyde,  and  the  four 
corners  of  Christendom  are  stacked  with  barrels  of 
carbolic  acid,  and  into  these  we  must  be  dipped  before 
we  can  enter  the  aseptic  realm  of  the  bacteriological 
field.  And  as  we  enter  the  holy  of  holies  we  remember 
the  germs  we  leave  behind  are  in  duplicate  quadrillions 
in  every  swamp,  frog-pond  and  alley. 

The  records  show  that  just  as  many  people,  or  just 
as  many  sick  people,  die  now  with  disease — any  dis- 
ease— as  twenty-five  years  ago.  Out  of  a  given  number 
of  cases  of  pneumonia,  consumption,  diphtheria  or  any 
other  disease,  just  as  many  people  die  now  as  before  the 
germ  theory.  A  man  dying  of  consumption  to-day, 
and  ignorant  of  the  germ  theory,  would  not  die  one 
day  sooner,  or  if  he  knew  all  about  the  germ  theory  he 
would  not  live  one  day  longer.  Bacteriology  does  not 
help  the  consumptive  to  breathe  any  deeper,  to  digest 
his  food  any  better,  to  sleep  any  better,  or  cough  any 
less. 

In  any  city  may  be  found  the  number  of  deaths  each 
month  in  the  year.  These  records  may  show  that 
deaths  from  certain  diseases  are  becoming  gradually 
less,  but  the  death-rate  among  a  given  number  of  sick 


38  MICKOBES   AND    HEALTH. 

people  is  as  large  as  before;  the  death-rate  among  the 
whole  population  is  less,  because  fewer  people  are  sick. 
Why  are  fewer  people  sick?  Because  there  are  more 
sewers  in  the  towns  and  cities,  less  filth  in  the  alleys, 
more  attention  paid  to  ventilation;  because  contagious 
swamps,  lowlands  and  frog-ponds  have  been  cleared 
up,  and  an  air  of  general  cleanliness  pervades  many 
localities  that  in  former  years  were  dumping  grounds 
for  all  kinds  of  filth.  In  a  word,  because  of  the  advance 
in  hygienic  science  for  which  bacteriology  can  claim  no 
credit. 

Epidemics  that  swept  away  large  percentages  of  the 
population  in  earlier  years  are  practically  exterminated, 
not  by  the  bacteriologist,  but  for  the  reasons  just  given 
and  because  fields  have  been  cultivated,  thus  exposing 
unhealthy  soil  to  the  purifying  effects  of  the  atmo- 
sphere and  the  sun's  rays.  Again,  people  are  .better 
fed  and  better  clothed,  hence  better  able  to  resist. 

These  are  the  reasons  that  fewer  people  are  sick, 
and  these  are  conditions  with  which  bacteriology  has 
lad  nothing  to  do,  absolutely  nothing.  Banish  dirt 
and  disease  disappears.  Havana  and  Santiago  had  for 
years  been  pest  holes  for  yellow  fever,  but  when  Amer- 
cans  went  over  and  carried  away  the  heaps  of  ancient 
rubbish,  and  emptied  the  overflowing  cess  pools,  yellow 
:ever  vanished. 

Influenza,  or  grip,  is  present  in  different  parts  of  the 
country  nearly  all  the  year  round.  We  do  not  fear  it 
as  we  do  diphtheria,  smallpox  or  cholera  because  it 
seldom  causes  death  directly,  yet  disease  resulting  from 
it,  pneumonia,  bronchitis,  consumption,  etc.,  cause* 


GEKMS.  39 

more  deaths  than  any  and  all  epidemics.  In  this  dis- 
ease as  in  many  others  the  bacteriologists  have  traced 
the  germ  throughout;  they  have  raised  millions  of 
them;  they  have  observed  their  death-struggles  in  their 
patent  serums  or  antitoxins,  yet  all  understand  that 
the  applied  teachings  of  bacteriology  will  not  cure  the 
grip,  neither  will  it  cure  typhoid  fever,  diphtheria,  con- 
sumption or  hiccough.  When  virulent  cases  are  met  the 
physician  of  experience  will  seek  the  cause  in  the  sani- 
tary condition  of  the  premises  and  not  in  the  species 
of  germs  or  other  microbes  revealed  by  the  microscope. 

One  large  patent  medicine  company,  taking  advan- 
tage of  the  germ  theories,  says:  "The  germs  lie  in 
wait  for  human  life  on  every  side.  Twenty  per  cent  of 
the  dairy  cows  of  the  United  States  are  tuberculous, 
and  the  average  grade  of  milk  sold  in  large  cities  con- 
tains as  high  as  eighty  million  germs  in  a  cubic  inch. 
These  facts  are  appalling.  The  very  existence  of  the 
human  race  seems  threatened.  So  fast  indeed  are  new 
parasites  being  produced  that  were  not  science  con- 
stantly elaborating  counter  checks  our  boasted  civiliza- 
tion would  soon  come  to  the  end  of  its  tether.  One  of 
the  greatest  counter  checks  to  disease  is  our  remedies," 
etc. 

First,  this  wide-awake  patent  medicine  firm  would 
make  it  appear  that  there  are  eighty  million  so  called 
consumptive  germs  to  each  cubic  inch  of  milk.  Milk 
may  contain  millions  of  germs,  whether  they  are  the 
so  called  consumptive  germ  or  not,  makes  little  differ- 
ence. The  water  we  drink  contains  millions  of  germs 
also.  So  does  the  air  we  breathe  and  the  food  we  eat. 


40  MICROBES   ASD   HEALTH. 

After  covering  nearly  half  a  page  in  a  large  newspaper, 
this  startling  advertising  firm  states  that  their  remedies 
"make  the  body  practically  impregnable  against  dis- 
ease." Then  follow  personal  letters  from  many,  who 
"owe  their  lives  to  this  wonderful  medicine;"  others 
"thank  God  for  their  deliverance,"  etc.  No  wonder 
people  are  sick! 

This  wide-awake  patent  medicine  firm  has  used  bac- 
teriology as  a  means  for  securing  financial  returns  and 
as  a  means  of  support  while  sending  out  their  delusive 
advertisements. 

Such  talk  only  causes  a  morbid  fascination,  a  fear 
which  lowers  the  powers  of  resistance  and  is  a  factor 
in  spreading  disease.  An  unhealthy  imagination  is 
undoubtedly  the  starting  point  of  many  diseases.  Al- 
though some  of  these  diseases  remind  us  of  the  man 
who,  when  asked  why  he  did  not  work,  said  his  wife 
had  been  studying  the  health  journal  and  that  she  had 
concluded  that  he  had  a  tendency  to  softening  of  the 
brain  with  complicated  symptoms  of  Bright's  disease, 
palpitation  of  the  heart,  inflammation  of  the  lungs, 
cremation  of  the  spleen,  indignation  of  the  esophagus, 
hypertrophy  of  the  palate,  distant  symptoms  of  liver 
complaint  and  some  internal  evidence  of  paralysis. 
Besides  that  the  man  claimed  he  was  not  feeling  well. 

The  bacteriologists  have  surrounded  us  with  so  many 
perils  that  suicide  would  seem  our  only  means  of  escape. 
According  to  them  it  is  not  safe  to  breathe  for  fear  of 
taking  in  the  tubercular  germ,  or  to  eat  or  drink  for 
fear  of  taking  in  the  typhoid  germ,  while  kissing  your 


GERMS.  41 

best  girl  is  fraught  with  dangers  too  numerous  to  men- 
tion and  too  terrible  to  contemplate.  A  germ  bulletin 
published  by  one  of  our  State  Boards  of  Health  for 
August,  1899,  Bulletin  No.  17,  referring  to  what  they 
call  "Dangerous  communicable  disease/'  says  that  each 
one  of  these  diseases  is  caused  by  one  or  more  specific 
germs. 

Eef erring  to  influenza  the  bulletin  says:  "The 
presence  of  the  germs  corresponds  with  the  course  of 
the  disease,  and  they  disappear  with  the  cessation  of 
the  purulent  bronchial  secretions."  That  is  not  evi- 
dence that  influenza  is  caused  by  a  germ,  but  is  the 
very  best  evidence  that  it  is  not  caused  by  a  germ. 
While  the  mucous  membrane  was  inflamed  there  was 
more  or  less  destruction  of  tissue,  and  it  was  necessary 
that  such  tissue  be  reduced  and  eliminated,  and  germs 
were  present  for  that  purpose.  By  their  power  to  pro- 
duce fermentation  they  formed  the  "purulent"  matter, 
but  as  soon  as  the  mucous  membrane  returned  to 
health  the  germs  were  expelled  without  ceremony. 

Again,  the  germ  bulletin  says:  "Only  upon  apes 
and  rabbits  have  inoculation  experiments  with  this 
germ  been  successful  in  producing  symptoms  of  the 
disease."  Here,  again,  after  inoculation;  i.  e.,  injecting 
the  germs  beneath  the  skin  and  into  the  system,  they 
could  not  produce  the  disease,  and  even  in  "apes  and 
rabbits"  they  could  only  produce  "symptoms."  That 
ought  to  satisfy  the  most  sensitive  mind.  "Only  upon 
apes  and  rabbits."  A  man  may  and  sometimes  does 
make  a  monkey  of  himself,  but  there  is  no  evidence 


42  MICROBES    AND   HEALTH. 

that  he  ever  degenerated  to  the  ape  family.  Thanks 
to  bacteriology  for  saving  us  from  the  ravages  of  at 
least  one  germ. 

The  bulletin  enumerates  four  different  germs,  any 
one  of  which  may  cause  pneumonia.  The  solution  of 
this  is  very  simple.  Different  germs  may  be  found  in 
the  lungs  during  an  attack  of  pneumonia,  having  been 
conveyed  there  by  respiration.  The  bulletin  say<: 
"While  there  is  a  general  consensus  of  opinion  among 
investigators  that  the  germ  diplococcus  intracellularis 
meningitis  is  usually  the  specific  cause  of  cerebro- 
spinal  meningitis,  there  is  abundant  evidence  to  show 
that  the  germ  of  pneumonia  is  frequently  responsible 
for  this  disease."  First,  they  tell  us  that  any  one  of 
four  germs  may  cause  pneumonia,  then  they  add  one 
more,  making  five,  any  one  of  which  may  cause  cerebro- 
spinal  meningitis,  but  the  solution  is  the  same  as  the 
one  just  given. 

The  different  germs  pass  from  the  mouth  into  the 
stomach,  and  when  the  stomach  is  unhealthy  some 
germs  find  their  way  into  the  circulation,  and  during 
cerebrospinal  meningitis,  which  is  inflammation  of  the 
membrane  covering  the  brain  and  spinal  cord,  some 
germs  lodge  in  that  part  of  the  membrane  destroyed 
by  disease.  They  have  had  nothing  to  do  with  pro- 
ducing the  disease,  and  their  numbers  will  depend  upon 
the  amount  of  tissue  the  inflammation  destroys.  If 
they  could  have  produced  disease  they  would  not  have 
waited  until  they  reached  the  brain. 

Green's  Pathology  says,  page  428,  that  the  so  called 
pneumonia  germ  has  been  found  in  ulceration  of  the 


GERMS.  43 

delicate  membrane  which  lines  the  heart  cavities  (ul- 
cerative  endocarditis),  yet  bacteriologists  do  not  pre- 
tend the  germs  caused  the  disease.  How  did  it  get 
there?  The  same  as  in  meningitis,  inflammation  had 
destroyed  some  of  the  membrane  lining  the  heart- 
cavities  and  the  germs  lodged  in  this  dead  and  dying 
tissue. 

The  bulletin  quoted  says:  "Extensive  observations 
in  the  morgues  of  large  cities  prove  that  even  a  large 
proportion  of  persons  dead  from  other  causes  have  re- 
covered from  consumption."  More  or  less  of  the  dis- 
charges from  the  lungs  of  a  consumptive  are  swallowed. 
It  is  impossible  to  prevent  it.  This  gives  the  so  called 
consumptive  germ  the  freedom  of  the  stomach  and 
entire  digestive  tract,  yet  bacteriologists  tell  us,  "A 
large  proportion  of  persons  dead  from  other  causes 
have  recovered  from  consumption."  This  is  an  im- 
portant admission,  only  because  it  comes  from  the  bac- 
teriologists. 

Every  bacteriologist  understands  that  the  human 
saliva  or  secretions  of  the  mouth  offer  an  excellent,  if 
not  the  best,  field  for  the  growth  and  development  of 
all  forms  of  germs.  The  moisture,  food,  salts  and 
warmth  are  adapted  to  their  growth,  and  as  a  result 
every  germ  known  to  bacteriology  may  be  and  is  found 
in  the  mouth  at  all  times.  The  so  called  germs  of 
pneumonia,  consumption,  typhoid  and  others  are  pres- 
ent in  varying  numbers.  It  is  the  action  of  germs  that 
causes  the  teeth  to  decay.  The  constant  changes  pro- 
duced by  germs  result  in  a  mild  form  of  fermentation 
as  already  explained.  New  substances  are  produced 


44  MICROBES   AX1)   HEALTH. 

mostly  acids,  as  in  the  souring  of  milk.  These  acids 
unite  with  the  calcium  or  lime  of  which  the  teeth  are 
formed  and  little  by  little  the  teeth  are  destroyed. 
Thousands  of  germs  find  their  way  from  the  mouth 
into  the  air-passages,  stomach,  etc.,  and  when  the  sys- 
tem is  unhealthy  many  enter  the  circulation.  That 
is  why  so  many  can  be  found  in  the  lungs  in  pneu- 
monia and  grip. 

An  article  appearing  on  page  184  of  the  Physician 
and  Surgeon  for  April,  1900,  contains  the  following 
under  the  head  of  influenza:  In  this  disease  bacteri- 
ologists may  find  present  in  the  lungs,  throat  and 
sputum,  respectively,  the  pneumonia  germ,  tubercular 
germ  and  diphtheria  germ,  but  on  closest  inspection 
and  investigation  fail  to  find  present  the  diseases  at- 
tributed to  these  germs." 

Germs  are  continually  being  carried  downward  by 
the  act  of  swallowing,  and  if  they  live  in  the  system 
long  enough  to  reach  tissue  that  has  been  destroyed  by 
disease  they  lodge  in  such  tissue  and  reduce  it.  In  the 
system  as  well  as  out  germs  are  the  medium  by  which 
nature  reduces  dead  matter,  by  which  the  dead  is  made 
to  support  the  living,  and  all  the  theories  bacteriology 
can  advance  will  neither  change  or  improve  this  plan. 

The  Physician  and  Surgeon  for  December,  1899,  con- 
tains an  article  under  the  head  of  consumption,  in 
which  it  states  that  "certain  forms  of  this  infection 
(consumption)  occur  in  which  no  tubercular  bacillus 
can  be  found,  and  these  cases  have  come  to  be  recognized 
as  cases  of  pseudo  tuberculosis." 


GERMS.  45 

These  cases  are  not  "false."  The  reason  germs  are 
not  present  in  the  diseased  tissue  is  that,  notwith- 
standing the  man  has  consumption,  there  still  remains 
sufficient  vitality  to  overcome  germ-life  before  they 
reach  the  diseased  lung.  In  such  cases  germs  would 
be  absent. 

Bacteriologists  cannot  produce  the  slightest  evidence 
that  germs  cause  disease  in  man.  They  can  produce 
theory  and  that  is  all.  Even  Green's  Pathology,  while 
it  supports  bacteriology,  says  (page  272):  "Germs  are 
believed  to  produce  the  infective  diseases."  Under 
consumption  (page  358)  this  same  standard  authority 
says:  "Fatty  changes,  caseation,  etc.,  are  probably 
due  to  germs."  Depend  upon  such  evidence  in  court 
and  see  how  quickly  you  lose  your  case. 

It  has  just  been  stated  that  bacteriologists  can  only 
produce  theory,  and  following  is  the  definition  of  dis- 
ease as  taught  by  one  of  the  leading  medical  colleges: 
"An  infectious  disease  is  one  in  which  a  pathogenic 
germ  enters  the  body,  grows,  multiplies  and  produces 
poisons  that  directly  cause  disease,  hence  no  disease  is 
infectious  that  is  not  a  germ-disease.  Therefore,  every 
infectious  disease  points  directly  to  a  germ,  whether  a 
germ  has  been  found  or  not."  This  is  only  theory,  and 
it  is  unnecessary  to  add  that  if  bacteriologists  could 
teach  something  better  than  theory  they  would  do  so. 

Many  who  accept  the  germ  theories  do  so  without 
thought  or  study.  The  self-constituted  leaders  tell 
them  they  have  made  such  and  such  discoveries,  and 
their  followers,  supposing  the  statements  to  be  true, 


46  MICROBES   AND   HEALTH. 

quietly  accept  and  pass  on.  The  writer  understands 
that  there  are  many  bacteriologists  who  will  laugh  at 
any  statements  made  against  their  theories;  against 
their  discoveries(  ?),  or  against  their  experiments,  which 
are  made  upon  guinea  pigs,  rabbits,  Algerian  rats,  yel- 
low dogs,  etc.,  which  have  been  deprived  of  their  lib- 
erty, cooped  up  in  a  cage,  packed  away  in  some  garret, 
foul-smelling  laboratory,  or  half  starved  for  the  occa- 
sion. After  inoculating  the  animals  just  mentioned 
the  operators,  more  or  less  fatigued,  sit  manfully  by 
and  watch  the  flickering  pulse  while  life  goes  out.  The 
reader  should  remember  that  it  is  only  after  experi- 
ments like  these  that  bacteriologists  are  enabled  tb  fight 
disease  intelligently.  The  bacteriologists  obtain  all 
their  theories  by  experiments  upon  the  lower  animals, 
yet  such  experiments  amount  to  nothing,  absolutely 
nothing. 

In  the  Physician  and  Surgeon  for  June,  1900,  page 
272,  it  is  shown  that  "guinea  pigs  can  be  rendered 
tuberculous  by  inoculating  them  with  pus  from  various 
sources,  pieces  of  thread  charged  with  vaccine  lymph, 
putrid  muscle,  or  after  introducing  a  clean  seton  of 
unbleached  cotton;  nay,  even  giving  a  guinea  pig  a 
brisk  pinch  in  the  flank  has  been  known  to  produce 
the  same  results" — tuberculosis.  And  yet  the  bacter- 
iologist claims  tuberculosis  cannot  be  produced  without 
the  tubercle  bacilli. 

The  article  just  mentioned  is  supported  by  many 
leading  authorities.  Green's  Pathology,  page  363, 
states  that  tuberculosis  may  be  produced  in  animals  by 
the  irritation  of  setons  of  vaccine,  bits  of  cork  or  paper. 


GERMS.  47 

Dr.  Evans  states  that  by  making  single  incisions  in 
pigs  they  afterwards  perished  of  abscess  at  the 
seat  of  injury,  and  miliary  tuberculosis  in  the  various 
organs. 

Guinea  pigs  are  said  to  be  one  hundred  times  as  sus- 
ceptible to  disease  as  man,  hence  it  is  plainly  evident 
that  experiments  upon  such  animals  amount  to  nothing 
unless  it  is  to  add  to  the  false  theories  which  bacteri- 
ology is  continually  sending  forth.  Laboratory  experi- 
ments have  nothing  to  do  with  disease  in  man.  There 
never  was  an  animal  inoculated  or  experimented  upon 
without  having  its  powers  of  resistance  or  vitality 
lowered  through  fear,  and  also  by  its  unnatural  sur- 
roundings ;  for  now  it  is  a  prisoner,  its  spirit  of  freedom 
is  replaced  by  one  of  subjection. 

"The  grey  forest  eagle— Oh!  where  has  he  fled? 
Does  he  shrink  to  his  eyrie,  shiv'ring  with  dread? 
Does  the  lightning  blind  his  eye?    Has  the  terrible  blast 
O'er  the  wing  of  the  Sky-king  a  fear-fetter  cast? 
Ah!   No,  No;  the  brave  eagle  thinks  not  of  flight; 
The  wrath   of  the  tempest   but   rouses   delight. 
To  the  flash  of  the  lightning  his  eye  casts  a  gleam; 
To  the  shriek  of  the  wild  blast  he  echoes  a  scream. 
With  front  like  a  warrior  spread  to  the  fray, 
With  clapping  of  pinions  he's  up  and  away. 
Aye,  Away!    Away  soars  the  fearless  and  free; 
Reckless  of  sky-strife,  its  monarch  is  he. 
The  lightning  darts  round  him— undaunted  his  flight; 
Still  upward,  high  upward,  he  wheels,  'till  his  form 
Is  lost  in  the  black,  scowling  gloom  of  the  storm." 

Imprison  this  same  bird  and  it  may  droop  and  die 
in  a  few  weeks  without  inoculation  or  experiment. 


48  MICROBES   AND    HEALTH. 

Bacteriologists  make  a  great  many  experiments  upon 
birds  as  well  as  guinea  pigs  and  other  animals  (man 
included).  These  experiments  are  worse  than  useless 
because  they  are  misleading;  yet,  unthinking  and  sus- 
ceptible, legislators  have  been  juggled  into  passing  laws 
giving  these  experimenters,  in  the  form  of  Health 
Boards,  full  power  to  control  the  intelligent  physician. 

As  already  stated,  germs  are  everywhere  present, 
earth,  air  and  water  contain  them  in  great  numbers. 
We  eat,  drink  and  inhale  millions  of  them  daily.  They 
have  existed  since  creation  began.  They  are  most 
abundant  in  low  places,  being  drawn  down  by  gravita- 
tion, and  also  because  there  is  more  heat  and  moisture 
which  favor  their  development.  They  cannot  live  in 
healthy  animal  tissue.  They  develop  just  as  a  seed 
develops.  If  they  develop  in  the  human  body;  the 
body  was  diseased  before  their  entrance.  Under  the 
proper  conditions  germs  multiply  and  perform  their 
part  in  the  changes  going  on  all  about  us. 

Bacteriologists  call  the  germ  theory  a  new  discovery, 
yet  germs  are  as  old  as  matter.  Germs  are  nature's 
scavengers  which  consume  corruption.  They  are  as 
old  as  life,  but  the  cause  of  disease  remains  just  where 
it  was  before  the  first  investigator  discovered  his  first 
bug.  By  studying  germs  we  can  no  more  understand 
the  cause  of  disease  than  we  can  understand  an  elephant 
by  studying  the  flea  which  lights  on  its  ear. 

In  a  certain  disease  one  kind  of  a  germ  is  found,  and 
in  another  disease  another  kind  of  a  germ  is  found, 
and  so  bacteriologists  tell  us  these  different  diseases 
are  caused  by  the  diffent  germs.  Is  that  true?  No, 


GERMS.  49 

the  different  germs  are  found  in  the  different  diseases 
because  of  the  different  variety  of  nourishment  pro- 
vided. This  nourishment  may  be  the  accumulation  in 
the  system  of  natural  waste  products,  or  may  include 
tissue  that  has  been  destroyed  by  disease.  Through 
the  circulation  the  same  kind  of  food  is  carried  to  the 
different  cells  of  which  the  body  is  formed.  But  the 
cells  do  not  admit  all  kinds  of  nourishment.  They 
exhibit  a  marked  selective  power,  hence  muscle-cells 
are  formed  of  one  kind  of  matter,  bone-cells  of  an- 
other, liver-cells  of  another,  and  those  of  the  central 
nervous  system  another,  etc.  Muscle-cells  have  the 
power  of  expension  and  contraction,  giving  the  power 
of  motion.  Bone-cells  are  two-thirds  lime  salts,  giv- 
ing solidity  to  the  framework.  Bone  is  said  to  be 
twice  as  strong  as  oak.  The  liver-cells  manufacture 
bile,  which  aids  digestion,  while  the  brain-cells  are  the 
seat  of  reason,  judgment,  memory,  emotion,  sensation, 
pleasure,  pain  and  all  that  we  see,  hear,  enjoy  or  suffer. 

Why  this  difference  ?  Because  each  cell  absorbs  dif- 
ferent nourishment.  It  is  necessary  that  the  different 
cells  select  different  food-elements  because  of  their 
several  duties,  hence  their  selective  power.  It  is  also 
necessary  that  other  cells  called  germs  select  different 
food-elements,  because  of  their  several  duties.  Some 
germs  find  such  elements  in  diseased  brain  or  liver  tis- 
sue as  in  brain-disease  or  liver-abscess;  some  in  dead 
and  dying  lung-tissue,  as  in  grip,  pneumonia,  bronchitis 
or  consumption,  and  some  in  a  diseased  digestive  tract, 
as  in  typhoid  fever. 

As  just  mentioned,  these  different  organs  and  tissues 


50  MICROBES    AND    HEALTH. 

contain  different  food-elements,  hence  when  diseased 
they  are  inhabited  by  different  germs.  'Nature  did  not 
design  that  the  different  germs  should  all  absorb  nour- 
ishment from  one  kind  of  diseased  and  worn  out  tissue 
any  more  than  all  kinds  of  plant-life  should  absorb 
nourishment  from  one  kind  of  soil,  or  that  all  animal 
life  should  live  upon  one  kind  of  food.  The  result  is 
perfectly  natural.  In  each  case  the  presence  of  the 
germ  corresponds  to  a  universal  law;  and,  as  already 
stated,  the  action  of  the  germs  separates  the  elements 
of  the  tissues  destroyed  by  disease,  and  thus  aids  in 
elimination. 

Doctor  Osier  says :  "The  food  supply  of  many  germs 
consists  of  dead  animal  and  vegetable  materials,  a  few 
living  tissues,  while  a  small  number  exists  wholly  upon 
mineral  salts,  and  even  the  nitrogen  of  the  air." 

The  germ  doctors  tell  us  that  a  consumptive  expec- 
torates, the  sputum  dries  and  as  the  wind  caroms 
around  some  corner  it  gathers  up  some  of  these  germs 
and  they  go  whirling  through  the  air  until  they  are 
inhaled  by  some  passer-by,  and  then  he  is  a  "goner." 

That  reminds  us  of  the  following  words,  which  are 
said  to  be  indelibly  stamped  upon  the  brain  of  every 
Californian,  by  reason  of  so  many  health-seeking  con- 
sumptives : 

"What  e'er  you  do,  where  e'er  you  go, 
From  Golden  Gate  to  Shasta's  snow, 
From  Pablo  Bay  to  Phoenix  sands, 
O'er  peak,  o'er  plain,  through  all  the  lands 
That  form  the  vast  Pacific  slope, 
I  pray  you,  and  I  truly  hope 
That  as  you  go  from  state  to  state 
You  never  will  expectorate. 


GERMS.  51 

I  say  this  to  you  now  because 
In  all  these  parts  they  have  made  laws 
That  don't  allow  men  who  are  free 
To  chew  and  spit  promiscuously; 
And  they  have  nailed  up  everywhere 
These  words  that  tell  us  to  beware 
Of  laws  passed  by  each  Far  West  State, 
Do  not,  do  not  expectorate. 

The  tourist  comes  out  from  the  East, 
He  brings  his  lungs— or  one  at  least- 
He  leans  against  a  poplar  tree, 
He  coughs,  and  coughs  so  wearily, 
He  chokes,  and  gasps,  prepares  to  spit, 
When  with  these  words  his  ear  is  hit— 
"See  here,  friend  'lunger,'  don't  you  see 
That  sign  tacked  there  upon  that  tree?" 

"Can  you  not  read  the  words  so  plain? 
You  better  not  cough  here  again; 
We  don't  allow  in  this  'ere  town 
No  man,  though  white,  or  black,  or  brown, 
To  cough  and  throw  himself  around 
In  little  chunks  upon  the  ground; 
I'm  Marshal  here,  and  let  me  state, 
You  better  not  expectorate." 

"My  God,  where  can  I  go!"  he  cries, 

This  tourist  man  with  hectic  eyes, 
"To  death  I  will  myself  resign! 

All  through  your  town  I  saw  your  sign, 

And  crawled  out  here,  and  thought  perhaps 

I  could  spit  once  'ere  I  collapse; 

But  here  it  is,  as  sure  as  fate— 

'Do  not,  do  not  expectorate.'  " 

A  smothered  cough,   a  groan,  and  then 
(Excuse  me,  we  are  all  neat  men, 
The  word  to  use  it  rhymes  with  sob) 
From  the  poor  tourist  falls  a . 


52  MICROBES   AXD   HEALTH. 

The  marshal  clubs  him  down  the  street, 
He  tells  the  justice,  whom  they  meet, 
The  justice  he  don't  do  a  thing 
But  sentence  him  to.  San  Quentin." 

The  Physician  and  Surgeon  contains  in  its  March 
number  of  1900,  page  125,  an  article  written  by  a  bac- 
teriologist, in  which  he  states :  "The  tubercle  bacillus 
has  been  found  everywhere  tuberculous  patients  move. 
What  we  eat,  what  we  drink,  the  houses  in  which  we 
live,  the  clothes  we  wear,  the  furniture,  the  draperies, 
the  carpets  covering  the  floor,  the  dust  in  the  streets, 
the  air  in  the  electric  car,  the  luxurious  seats  of  the 
palace  car,  the  bedding  of  the  magnificent  sleeping 
coaches,  the  richly  furnished  apartments  of  our  modern 
hotels,  the  modest  rooms  of  the  common  boarding- 
houses,  the  state-rooms  of  our  steamers,  the  air  in  the 
crowded  store,  public  buildings,  churches,  assembly 
rooms,  theaters,  libraries,  the  dentist  chair,  the  operat- 
ing tables  in  the  hospital,  the  ambulance  carrying  the 
wounded  and  sick,  the  crowded  waiting-rooms  of  lawyers 
and  doctors,  the  court-room,  the  concert  halls,  the 
hospitals,  all  of  these  are  liable  to  be  infected  by  the 
tubercle  bacillus." 

They  also  tell  us  consumption  is  contagious.  Can 
any  one  reconcile  the  two  statements  ? 

Prof.  Osier  says  the  distribution  of  germs  is  well 
nigh  universal,  occuring  as  they  do  in  the  air  we 
breathe,  the  water  and  milk  we  drink,  upon  the  exposed 
surfaces  of  man  and  animals,  and  in  the  digestive  tract, 
and  in  the  soil  to  a  depth  of  about  nine  feet.  But  it 
has  been  noted  that  at  very  high  altitudes  and  in  glacier 


GERMS.  53 

ice  none  exist,  while  in  arctic  regions  and  at  sea  far 
from  land  their  numbers  are  very  few. 

William  F.  Waugh,  A.  M.  M.  D.,  that  well  known 
medical  author,  says  in  his  Treatment  of  the  Sick,  page 
331:  "During  my  service  as  medical  inspector  of  the 
Philadelphia  Board  of  Health  I  had  opportunity  of 
noticing  the  environment  of  many  cases  of  infectious 
diseases,  and  in  every  case  the  severity  depended  on 
the  hygienic  conditions.  Offensive  cesspools  leaking 
into  cellars,  filth  in  yard,  alley,  gutter  or  street  were 
the  very  obvious  cause  of  malignancy."  He  says,  ffln 
every  case  of  infectious  disease  the  severity  depended 
upon  the  hygienic  conditions." 

Could  words  be  plainer  ?  Do  germs  cause  malignant 
disease  ?  Or  is  the  system  overcome  by  unhealthy  con- 
ditions, both  external  and  internal? 

Some  bacteriologists  claim  that  malignant  disease  is 
caused  by  mixed  infection;  i.  e.,  instead  of  one  germ 
there  are  two  or  more  varieties  present  in  the  system. 
Yet  the  reader  should  remember  that  dead  and  dying 
tissue  always  contains  a  variety  of  germs. 

An  animal  dies  out  in  the  field.  Are  all  the  various 
species  of  flies  and  other  insects  obliged  to  stand  back 
and  look  on  because  a  certain  bug  has  chosen  the  dead 
body  for  its  field  of  operation?  No,  but  every  species 
of  animal  life  that  can  creep,  crawl,  walk,  run  or  fly; 
every  insect  or  other  minute  life  that  floats  through 
the  air,  makes  haste  to  occupy  a  position  on  the  dead 
body  and  enjoy  the  feast.  So,  also,  when  disease  de- 
stroys tissue  in  the  human  system.  The  man  with 
the  microscope  may  find  more  than  one  kind  of  germ, 


54  MICROBES   AND   HEALTH. 

sometimes  finding  a  greater  and  sometimes  a  lesser 
variety. 

Where  the  power  of  the  bacteriologists  should  avail 
much  they  are  powerless.  They  may  have  the  advan- 
tage when  they  have  the  germs  planted  in  incubators, 
but  in  the  human  system  it  is  different,  and  the  germs 
enjoy  the  change;  for,  in  experimental  work,  these 
germs  have  been  passed  back  and  forth  so  many  times 
from  guinea  pigs,  rabbits  and  white  rats  that  life  began 
to  be  a  burden,  but  buried  within  the  hidden  recesses 
of  the  human  body  they  can  enjoy  life  in  spite  of  the 
bacteriologists  and  their  theories. 

Are  the  bacteriologists  theorizing?  Let  us  see. 
Human  blood  contains  many  small  bodies  or  particles 
of  matter  called  corpuscles.  Vast  numbers  of  these 
float  along  with  the  blood-stream.  There  are  two  prin- 
cipal varieties,  red  and  white.  The  red  possess  great 
power  to  absorb  oxygen,  and  in  their  passage  through 
the  lungs  they  absorb  oxygen  from  the  air  we  breathe, 
and  through  the  circulation  carry  it  to  different  parts 
of  the  body.  The  oxygen  aids  in  the  changes  which 
are  constantly  going  on  in  the  human  system  ;^ids  that 
form  of  digestion  carried  on  in  the  circulation.  The 
oxygen  gives  life,  force  and  energy.  It  is  these  cells 
or  corpuscles  which  give  to  the  blood  its  bright  red 
color. 

Bacteriologists  tell  us  that  the  white  corpuscles  act 
as  a  body-guard ;  they  are  a  standing  army  for  the  pur- 
pose of  protecting  the  body  from  invasions  from  with- 
out, and  that  when  germs  attack  the  system  these 
white  corpuscles  are  greatly  increased  in  numbers;  the 


GERMS.  55 

system  furnishing  them  on  demand,  and  that  then 
there  is  a  great  battle,  and  if  the  corpuscles  win  there 
is  no  disease;  but  if  they  are  defeated  disease  follows; 
the  germs  dying  later,  largely  from  the  effects  of  their 
own  poison.  This  is  known  as  MetschnikoflPs  theory. 
Note  the  word  "theory." 

Unless  the  story  of  the  white  corpuscles  is  true  in 
all  cases  it  is  not  true  in  any,  and  it  is  not  true  in  all, 
for  there  is  no  increase  in  the  white  corpuscles  in  typ- 
hoid fever,  consumption,  in  many  cases  of  diphtheria, 
in  leucocythemia,  and  many  other  diseases. 

In  the  disease  leucocythemia  there  is  an  enormous 
increase  in  the  white  corpuscles  and  yet  this  disease 
is  not  caused  by  germs.  Xo  one  claims  it  is.  Here 
we  find  the  condition  exactly  opposite  to  Doctor  Metsch- 
nikoffs  "theory."  Will  some  State  Board  of  Health 
clear  up  the  trouble?  And  yet  this  is  hardly  a  fair 
question,  for  each  health  board  has  "troubles  of  its 
own.",  Their  whole  existence  is  a  vast  sea  of  trouble, 
their  greatest  trouble  is  to  keep  up  with  their  own 
theories;  i.  e.,  to  prepare  new  theories  as  fast  as  they 
discard  old  ones. 

Dr.  Metschnikoff,  a  Russian,  was  the  first  to  give  us 
the  astounding  information  that  when  the  system  is 
attacked  with  germs  the  white  corpuscles  instantly  re- 
spond to  the  call  to  arms;  they  throw  out  skirmish 
lines;  divide  the  main  army  into  squads;  surround  the 
invading  germs;  fall  upon  them  and  destroy  them. 
This  is  called  phagocytosis.  The  professor  says  some- 
times the  germs  "play  possum,"  and  when  the  white 
corpuscles  are  carrying  them  away  captives,  the  germs 


56  MICROBES   AND   HEALTH. 

suddenly  and  unexpectedly  attack  the  corpuscles,  and 
with  the  advantage  thus  gained,  may  succeed  in  killing 
them.  The  germs  are  now  at  liberty  to  produce  dis- 
ease wherever  they  may  be,  and  that  is  the  reason  peo- 
ple have  rheumatism,  consumption  and  other  diseases 
in  different  parts  of  the  body;  in  the  ankle,  knee,  hip 
or  shoulder  joint;  consumption  of  the  brain,  inflamma- 
tion of  the  spinal  cord,  etc.  Such  a  theory  is  a  great 
detriment  to  the  young  doctors  who  are  turned  out  to 
experiment  upon  human  life. 

Following  is  the  cause  for  an  occasional  increase  in 
the  white  corpuscles:  The  white  corpuscles  increase 
at  certain  times  because  the  nerves  which  supply  the 
glands  or  tissues  producing  them  are  stimulated;  such 
stimulation  being  the  result  of  certain  irritating  sub- 
stances or  poisons  generated  in  the  system.  Some 
kinds  of  poisons  stimulate  this  system  of  nerves  and 
some  do  not.  The  same  is  true  of  poisons  that  are 
used  in  medicine.  Some  stimulate  certain  nerves  and 
some  do  not.  Digitalis  stimulates  the  nerves  that  con- 
trol the  size  of  the  blood-vessels,  and  the  vessels  con- 
tract. Belladonna  paralyzes  these  nerves  and  the  ves- 
sels dilate.  Strychnine  stimulates  the  nerves  which 
supply  the  muscles,  and  if  enough  is  given  some  muscles 
may  escape  the  control  of  the  individual,  and  the  arms 
and  feet  fly  in  all  directions,  or  the  spasm  may  include 
all  the  muscles  at  one  time,  and  the  body  will  become 
rigid.  Opium  paralyzes  these  same  nerves  and  the 
system  is  completely  relaxed.  Atropin  paralyzes  the 
nerves  supplying  the  glands  of  the  skin,  mouth,  throat 
and  other  parts  of  the  body,  and  they  fail  to  act. 


GEKMS.  57 

Pilocarpine  stimulates  the  same  nerves  and  they  pour 
out  large  amounts  of  fluid.  Chloroform  weakens  the 
nerve  supplying  the  heart,  glonoin  strengthens  it. 

The  poison  generated  in  the  system  and  which  causes 
typhoid  fever  and  other  diseases  mentioned,  does  not 
stimulate  the  nerves  supplying  the  glands  or  tissues 
which  produce  the  white  corpuscles,  hence  there  is  no 
increase.  These  nerves  are  stimulated  by  other  self- 
generated  poisons,  and  there  is  an  increase.  This  ac- 
counts for  the  disease  Leucocythemia,  already  men- 
tioned, in  which  there  is  an  enormous  increase  in  the 
white  corpuscles. 

The  spleen  and  lymph  glands  of  the  body  are  the 
structures  which  supply  the  white  corpuscles,  and  in 
Leucocythemia  these  are  all  enlarged  showing  over- 
stimulation.  The  spleen  may  become  so  large  as  to 
nearly  fill  the  whole  of  the  abdominal  cavity.  The 
spleen  enlarges  more  than  other  glands,  because  its 
blood-supply  is  proportionately  larger,  and  the  blood- 
vessels are  not  continued  through  the  organ  as  through 
other  structures,  but  the  circulation  is  continued 
through  openings  that  are  channeled  through  the  spleen 
itself.  This  brings  the  irritating  blood  in  direct  con- 
tact with  the  spleenic  tissues. 

The  liver  is  also  much  enlarged,  because  the  veins 
from  the  spleen  empty  directly  into  the  liver.  The 
white  corpuscles  become  so  numerous  that  the  blood 
loses  its  red  color  and  looks  almost  white.  The  pres- 
sure of  the  spleen  and  liver  interfere  with  the  lung- 
action  and  respiration  is  lessened.  The  pressure  also 
interferes  with  the  heart-action  and  there  is  weakness 


58  MICROBES   AND    HEALTH. 

of  this  organ,  both  from  pressure  and  lack  of  nourish- 
ment. These  cases  do  not  occur  often,  but  they  are 
always  fatal  and  the  cause  has  never  been  given. 
There  is  no  known  treatment  that  is  of  benefit. 

But  if  germs  are  the  special  enemy  of  the  white 
corpuscles,  and  the  white  corpuscles  the  only  enemy 
of  the  germs,  as  claimed  by  the  bacteriologist,  then 
here  is  a  chance  to  use  germs  to  advantage,  literally 
feed  the  man  on  germs,  the  more  virulent  or  poisonous 
the  better.  Let  them  destroy  the  white  corpuscles  and 
bring  the  patient  back  to  health. 

Bacteriologists  do  not  pretend  that  Leucocythemia  is 
caused  by  germs,  yet  there  is  an  enormous  increase  in 
the  white  corpuscles.  Again,  the  bacteriologists  claim 
that  these  white  corpuscles  only  increase  when  there  is 
danger  from  invading  germs. 

Bacteriologists  teach  that  in  case  of  accident  the 
system  sends  great  numbers  of  these  white  corpuscles 
to  the  point  of  injury  for  the  purpose  of  protecting 
the  part  from  germ  invasion.  Is  that  true  ? 

Injury  that  produces  swelling  and  inflammation  also 
paralyzes  the  nerves  which  control  the  size  of  the  small 
blood-vessels,  and  the  vessels  dilate.  In  proportion  to 
such  enlargement  the  circulation  is  lessened.  Every 
one  understands  that  a  broad  creek  or  river  will  not 
flow  as  rapidly  as  the  same  amount  of  water  in  a  nar- 
rower channel.  The  same  is  true  with  the  circulation. 
When  the  arteries  broaden  the  circulation  becomes 
sluggish.  In  this  sluggish  circulation  the  white  cor- 
puscles collect,  just  as  driftwood  carried  by  a  creek  or 


GERMS.  59 

river  collects  where  the  stream  is  broad  and  the  current 
slackened. 

Instead  of  the  white  corpuscles  being  sent  to  the 
point  of  injury  they  collect  there  by  reason  of  a  slug- 
gish circulation.  To  prove  this  we  only  have  to  re- 
member that  during  health  they  are  more  numerous 
in  the  veins  than  in  the  arteries.  The  circulation  is 
naturally  more  sluggish  in  the  veins  because  the  veins 
are  larger.  Their  increase  at  the  point  of  injury  is 
mechanical. 

Do  the  white  corpuscles  ever  escape  from  the  arteries 
into  the  surrounding  tissue  and  destroy  germs  as 
claimed  by  Prof.  Metschnikoff  and  his  followers  ? 

When  poison  or  injury  causes  the  vessels  to  dilate 
with  a  corresponding  slowing  of  the  current,  as  de- 
scribed, the  white  corpuscles,  being  much  larger  than 
the  red  ones,,  naturally  drift  to  one  side.  It  would  be 
impossble  to  keep  a  heavy  timber  in  the  center  of  a 
swiftly  moving  current  or  stream.  The  timber  would 
seek  the  first  cove  and  remain  under  some  sheltering 
bank.  That  is  why  driftwood  is  always  found  along 
the  shore.  It  is  the  same  with  the  white  corpuscles; 
being  much  larger  than  the  red  ones  they  cling  along 
the  sides  of  the  vessels,  and  as  the  vessels  dilate  the 
walls  become  correspondingly  thinner  and  many  white 
corpuscles  pass  through.  The  more  the  vessels  are 
stretched  the  easier  the  white  corpuscles  can  escape. 

The  pus  contained  in  every  abscess  is  made  up  largely 
of  white  corpuscles;  they  accumulate  at  the  point  of 
inflammation  in  the  manner  described,  tumble  around, 


<>0  MICROBES    AXD   HEALTH. 

die,  and  are  converted  into  pus,  proving  conclusively 
that  their  action  is  only  mechanical.  The  bacteri- 
ologists do  not  pretend  that  the  red  corpuscles  are 
germ  destroyers,  or  that  nature  has  given  them  any 
power  to  pass  out  of  the  vessels  and  invade  surrund- 
ing  tissues,  yet  when  the  arteries  dilate  sufficiently 
rand  the  circulation  has  slowed  down  to  A  certain  rate, 
the  red  corpuscles  do  pass  through,  showing  the  change 
is  mechanical.  They  would  have  passed  through  be- 
fore, but  they  were  so  small  and  light  that  they  kept 
in  the  center  of  the  stream.  It  is  these  red  corpuscles 
ihat  gives  redness  to  a  swollen  and  inflamed  part. 

Bacteriology  claims  the  white  corpuscles  have  the 
power  to  roam  through  the  system  at  will  and  that  they 
•do  this  in  order  to  seek  out  and  destroy  any  invading 
germs,  and  thus  render  the  body  free  from  disease.  Is 
that  true?  The  white  corpuscles  are  a  soft  proto- 
plasmic mass,  and  they  have  the  same  power  of  motion 
that  the  white  of  an  egg  has  when  placed  in  the  hand 
und  allowed  to  slip  through  between  the  fingers.  That 
is  the  way  they  pass  through  the  arteries  and  other  tis- 
sues, finding  their  way  between  the  little  cells  of  which 
the  arteries  and  other  structures  are  formed. 

Do  the  white  corpuscles  have  the  power  to  attack 
and  destroy  germs  as  claimed  by  Prof.  Metschnikoff 
^nd  his  followers?  A  professor  in  one  of  our  leading 
universities,  medical  department,  uses  these  words: 
^'The  white  corpuscles  make  a  wholesale  attack  upon 
the  germs,  catch  and  overpower  them,  gulp  them  down, 
and  then  secrete  a  poison  which  destroys  them  and  they 
pass  into  solution." 


GERMS.  61 

Prof.  Osier  says,  "Armies  of  white  cells  rush  to  the 
fray  and  attempt  to  eat  up  and  destroy  the  foe,  hut 
possibly  in  vain,  the  disease  runs  its  course." 

But  if  nature  has  created  the  white  cells  or  cor- 
puscles for  the  purpose  of  destroying  germs,  then,  ac- 
cording to  "bacteriology,  nature  has  made  a  mistaker 
for  Dr.  Osier  states,  and  all  "bacteriologists  admit,  that 
the  white  cells  often  fail  and  "the  disease  runs  its 
course."  Bacteriologists  should  stop  theorizing  long 
enough  to  learn  that  if  the  Divine  Architect  had  de- 
signed the  white  cell  to  protect  the  hody  from  invading 
germs  they  would  do  so.  Every  germ  that  enters  the 
human  system  would  he  destroyed,  hut  instead  of  this 
the  white  cells  are  the  ones  to  suffer.  Every  abscess 
and  pus  cavities  are  filled  largely  with  white  cells  which 
serve  as  food  for  the  germs  present. 

Do  the  white  cells  ever  destroy  germs,  as  claimed1 
by  the  professors? 

These  questions  may  be  answered  as  follows :  Germs 
are  many  times  smaller  than  the  white  corpuscles,, 
therefore  germs  may  sometimes  be  found  in  the  sub- 
stance of  the  white  cells. 

How  did  they  get  there  ? 

By  absorption,  just  as  particles  of  dirt  floating  in 
water  are  absorbed  by  a  sponge.  But  there  is  not  the 
slightest  evidence  that  the  germs  were  alive  when  ab- 
sorbed by  the  white  cells. 

Can  the  white  corpuscles  furnish  a  secretion  that 
will  destroy  germs  ? 

The  secretions  of  the  white  cells  in  the  human  body 
have  the  power  to  destroy  life  in  other  cells  called 


<">>!  MICROBES    AND    HEALTH. 

germs.  This  power  is  not  confined  to  the  white  cor- 
puscles, however,  but  is  true  of  every  cell  in  the  body. 
The  white  corpuscles  are  perhaps  of  least  importance 
in  this  particular.  Millions  of  live  germs  enter  the 
system  every  day.  They  are  always  dead  when  elimi- 
nated from  a  healthy  body.  This  is  a  fact  which  every 
bacteriologist  understands.  The  secretions  of  every 
organ  in  the  body,  and  of  all  the  tissues,  have  the 
power  to  destroy  germs.  The  cells  of  the  digestive 
organs,  those  which  furnish  the  digestive  fluids,  are  far 
more  powerful  in  destroying  germs  and  neutralizing 
poison  than  the  white  corpuscles,  yet  the  bacteriologist 
would  have  use  believe  the  white  corpuscles  alone 
possess  this  power.  Take  a  consumptive;  usually  the 
diseased  lungs  are  literally  loaded  with  germs,  and  as 
fast  as  the  lung  tissue  is  destroyed  it  is  expectorated, 
and  millions  of  germs  are  swallowed.  They  are 
poured  into  the  stomach  in  great  numbers;  it  cannot 
be  otherwise.  No  one  pretends  and  even  the  bacteri- 
ologists do  not  claim  that  the  white  corpuscles  or  cells 
follow  the  germs  into  the  stomach  and  destroy  them. 

Do  the  germs  cause  disease  of  the  digestive  tract? 

No,  everyone  understands  that  consumption  of  the 
digestive  tract  is  seldom  met  with,  even  in  those  who 
have  consumption  of  the  lungs. 

Are  the  germs  eliminated  alive? 

No,  the  bacteriologists  themselves  tell  us  germs  are 
always  dead  when  eliminated. 

Then,  if  they  are  dead  and  the  white  corpuscles  do 
not  kill  them,  what  does? 


GEKMS.  63 

Why,  the  cells  of  the  digestive  tract,  of  course;  i.  e., 
the  digestive  fluids  furnished  by  those  cells. 

The  stomach  is  the  place  where  germs  enter  in  the 
largest  numbers,  hence  it  is  good  sense  to  believe  that 
the  cells  of  this  organ  are  most  powerful  in  destroying 
them.  Human  blood  is  also  a  powerful  germ  destroyer. 

It  has  been  stated  that  bacteriology  rests  upon  noth- 
ing real,  and  is  supported  only  by  theory.  In  the  fore- 
going pages  the  author  has  endeavored  to  prove  that 
statement  true.  Look  at  it  another  way. 

Maggots  do  not  cause  wood  to  rot.  Their  presence 
only  indicates  that  such  material  furnishes  nourish- 
ment upon  which  they  can  develop.  Germs  do  not 
cause  disease.  Their  presence  only  indicates  that  tis- 
sue destroyed  by  disease  furnishes  nourishment  upon 
which  they  can  develop.  Germs  are  scavengers  feed- 
ing upon  dead  tissue.  Maggots  are  scavengers  feeding 
upon  rotten  wood. 

The  mechanic  strikes  his  finger  with  the  hammer; 
the  finger  swells,  turns  black  and  later  some  of  the 
cells  of  tissues  destroyed  by  the  blow,  liquefy  and  are 
discharged  as  pus.  The  microscope  would  reveal  mil- 
lions of  germs  in  this  pus,  yet  all  would  understand 
that  it  was  the  blow  from  the  hammer  and  not  the 
germs  that  caused  the  abscess. 

Take  a  burn,  where  the  skin  and  some  of  the  deeper 
structures  are  destroyed.  Soon  this  dead  tissue  is  filled 
with  germs,  and  by  their  power  to  decompose  dead 
matter,  the  germs  break  down  or  separate  the  elements 
of  the  tissues  destroyed  by  the  burn,  some  in  the  form 


64  MICROBES   AND   HEALTH. 

of  gases  and  some  in  the  form  of  pus,  and  as  fast  as 
the  dead  matter  is  removed  healthy  tissue  forms  and 
gradually  the  wound  heals.  The  microscope  would  re- 
veal millions  of  germs  in  the  dead  tissue  and  in  the 
pus,  yet  all  would  understand  it  was  the  burn  and  not 
the  germs  that  caused  the  disease,  but  the  germ  action 
aided  materially  in  the  process  of  healing,  for  without 
such  action  the  tissues  destroyed  by  the  hammer  or 
the  fire  would  not  have  been  removed,  but  would  have 
remained  in  a  mummified  condition.  Green's  Path- 
ology states,  page  270,  and  every  pathologist  under- 
stands, that  "all  processes  comprised  in  the  terms  fer- 
mentation and  putrefaction  are  due  to  the  action  of 
vegetable  organisms." 

Some  bacteriologists  admit  that  such  germ  action 
and  elimination  is  an  advantage  to  the  patient,  but 
claim  that  when  the  dead  matter  is  removed  the  germs, 
with  the  advantage  gained,  continue  to  do  business  at 
the  old  stand.  In  other  words,  there  are  some  who 
do  not  claim  that  germs  are  the  primary  or  first  cause 
of  disease,  but  that  disease  allows  their  development 
in  the  system,  after  which  they  attack  the  surrounding 
tissues  and  thus  cause  chronic  disease  and  fatal  termi- 
nation. 

Is  that  true  ? 

Let  us  make  a  few  practical  applications.  Let  us 
take  those  diseases  in  which  there  are  a  large  number 
of  germs  present.  There  are  millions  of  germs  in  the 
pus  contained  in  every  felon,  boil,  or  carbuncle,  yet 
these  cases  usually  heal  promptly  and  the  individual 
forgets  all  about  them.  A  man  breaks  his  leg.  It  is  a 


GEKMS.  65 

compound  fracture;  i.  e.,  the  broken  ends  of  the  bone 
project  through  the  skin.  The  wound  does  not  heal 
readily  and  pus  forms.  The  microscope  would  reveal 
millions  of  germs  present,  yet  no  one  would  be  foolish 
enough  to  believe  that  the  germs  caused  the  disease. 
All  would  understand  that  they  were  the  result  and 
not  the  cause. 

Take  diseases  that  are  more  grave;  diseases  that  are 
most  dangerous  to  human  life,  and  also  those  which 
contain  the  greatest  number  of  germs.  Typhoid  fever, 
where  many  ulcers  or  pus  cavities  are  formed;  ulcer  of 
the  stomach,  pneumonia,  consumption,  abscess  of  the 
abdominal  cavity  in  appendicitis,  etc.  In  each  of  these 
germs  are  present  in  vast  numbers,  yet  everyone  under- 
stands that  these  cases  usually  recover.  Recovery  is 
the  rule  in  typhoid  fever  and  pneumonia.  Ninety  per 
cent  of  those  having  appendicitis  recover  without  oper- 
ation, and  as  already  stated,  the  bacteriologists  them- 
selves admit  that  "extensive  observations  in  the  mor- 
gues of  large  cities  prove  that  even  a  large  proportion 
of  persons  dead  from  other  causes  have  recovered  from 
consumption." 

Doctor  Ingals  of  Chicago  is  quoted  as  saying  that 
"ninety  per  cent  of  all  people  have  consumption  some- 
time." This  is  a  sweeping  statement  of  the  prevalence 
of  consumption,  but  observation  and  experience  bear 
it  out. 

It  is  stated  editorially  in  the  December,  1900, 
Alkaloidal  Clinic,  page  931,  that  Naegeli  found,  with 
improved  methods  of  post-mortem  examinations  and 
investigations,  that  one  hundred  per  cent  of  adults 


66  MICROBES    AND    HEALTH. 

examined  presented  evidence  of  tubercular  lesions,  and 
claimed  that  ever}-  adult  is  tuberculous.  But  the 
strong  are  able  to  transform  an  active  lesion  into  a 
latent  inactive  process. 

Bacteriologists  claim  consumption  is  caused  by  a 
certain  specific  germ.  Yet  post-mortem  examinations 
prove  that  in  the  great  majority  of  cases,  if  not  all, 
that  germs  have  been  present  to  the  extent  of  causing 
cavities  in  the  lungs,  yet  the  patient  recovered  and  died 
later  from  other  causes.  Does  the  reader  suppose  that 
if  germs  can  cause  consumption,  and  if  the  disease  had 
so  far  progressed  as  to  cause  the  characteristic  marks 
in  the  lungs  as  rescribed,  that  the  trouble  would  have 
stopped  here?  Certainly  not;  but,  having  become 
master  of  the  situation,  the  germs  would  precede  to 
the  inevitable  ending — death  of  the  patient. 

But  if  we  consider  the  presence  of  the  germ  only  as 
the  result  of  the  disease — merely  a  result  of  circum- 
stances— how  simple  the  explanation  becomes;  how 
easy  to  account  for  their  presence.  Those  who  under- 
stand the  nature  of  these  diseases  understand  that  the 
danger  is  not  from  the  germs  present,  but  from  the 
virulent  poisons  in  the  form  of  purulent  matter  and 
foul  gases  resulting  from  the  tissue  destroyed  by  dis- 
ease. 

Take  another  example;  abscess  of  the  liver.  This 
disease  is  secondary  in  a  more  direct  sense  than  the 
other  diseases  mentioned.  Abscess  of  the  liver  usually 
results  from  a  diseased  digestive  tract.  The  return 
circulation  from  the  digestive  tract  is  first  carried  di- 
rect to  the  liver,  and  when  digestion  is  poor  the  cir- 


GERMS.  67 

culation  also  carries  waste  and  poisonous  matter,  which 
is  emptied  directly  into  the  liver,  and  the  whole  organ 
is  poisoned.  The  digestion  carried  on  by  the  liver  is 
interfered  with.  The  enormous  amount  of  other  work 
carried  on  by  this  organ  is  also  interfered  with.  With 
a  loss  of  liver-action  intestinal  digestion  is  interfered 
with,  the  digestive  tract  becomes  more  unhealthy,  and 
in  return  more  poisons  are  poured  into  the  liver.  The 
return  circulation  passing  through  the  liver  is  dimin- 
ished and  oxydation  of  the  blood  in  the  lungs  is  cor- 
respondingly lessened.  The  enlarged  liver,  with  its 
growing  abscess,  crowds  upon  the  lungs  and  lessens  the 
power  of  respiration;  nutrition  is  lessened  and  the 
whole  body  suffers.  These  are  conditions  with  which 
germs  have  nothing  to  do,  absolutely  nothing. 

Abscess  of  the  brain,  although  rare,  is  also  second- 
ary. First  there  is  a  diseased  heart  or  diseased  arteries 
from  some  cause.  Both  are  of  slow  growth.  (Abscess 
of  the  brain  may  result  from  accident.)  In  any  case, 
the  circulation  becomes  clogged,  nutrition  is  shut  off 
and  some  of  the  brain  tissue  dies;  first  one  cell  and 
then  another;  inflammation  surrounds  the  dead  area 
and  prevents  its  spread — nature's  method  of  localizing 
disease.  Germs  have  had  nothing  to  do  with  bringing 
about  the  long  train  of  conditions  that  led  up  to  the 
abscess.  Thousands,  of  times  before  germs  may  have 
circulated  through  this  same  brain,  but  now  they  lodge 
in  the  dead  and  dying  tissue  and  reduce  it  to  liquid 
form,  according  to  a  natural  law. 

Ulcer  of  the  stomach  is  secondary,  and  is  caused  by 
a  blood-clot  or  the  obliteration  of  an  artery,  when  the 


MICROBES   AXD    HEALTH. 

parts  supplied  by  such  an  artery  die  from  lack  of 
nourishment  anjl  degeneration  follows.  The  stomach 
may  become  so  unhealthy  as  to  contain  immense  num- 
bers of  germs,  yet  the  danger  is  not  from  the  germs,  but 
from  perforation;  i.  e.,  the  ulcer  may  "eat"  through 
the  stomach,  or  may  destroy  blood-vessels  and  cause 
dangerous  or  fatal  hemorrhage.  In  none  of  the  dis- 
eases named  are  germs  a  danger  or  injury. 

Some  may  claim  that  when  an  abscess  ruptures  the 
bulk  of  the  germs  escape,  and  it  is  by  reason  of  such 
relief  that  the  system  recovers.  Exactly.  Nature  has 
made  every  provision  for  the  system  to  localize  disease 
and  overcome  germ  action.  The  abscess  is  circum- 
scribed until  it  reaches  the  surface,  when  rupture  takes 
place  and  the  system  is  relieved.  If  an  abscess  is  so 
deep  that  it  cannot  reach  the  surface  it  is  often  ab- 
sorbed; little  by  little  it  is  taken  up  by  the  circulation, 
carried  away,  eliminated  and  recovery  follows. 

These  cases  not  only  show  that  germs  do  not  cause 
disease,  but  they  prove  that  the  presence  of  germs  in 
any  considerable  numbers  is  merely  coincident  with 
disease ;  i.  e.,  a  result  of  disease.  As  stated  many  times, 
they  are  everywhere  present  for  the  purpose  of  separat- 
ing the  elements  of  dead  tissue,  animal  or  vegetable, 
and  giving  such  elements  back  to  nature's  laboratory. 
Whether  death  was  the  result  of  accident,  old  age  or 
disease  (abscess)  makes  no  difference.  When  the  work 
is  finished  the  germs  disappear. 

Green's  Pathology,  although  filled  -to  overflowing 
with  the  various  germ  theories,  states  on  page  370: 


GERMS.  69 

"How,  too,  should  we  otherwise  explain  the  recovery 
of  some  people  from  phthisis  except  by  assuming  that 
the  soil,  which  was  at  one  time  favorable  to  the  growth 
of  the  bacillus  became  later  on  unfavorable  ?"  Can  any 
one  select  more  convenient  words  to  prove  that  germs 
are  the  result  and  not  the  cause  of  disease  ? 

The  author  recently  addressed  a  letter  to  a  leading 
germ  theorist,  for  many  years  professor  in  one  of  our 
leading  university's  medical  department,  asking  the 
question:  "In  diseased  conditions  is  it  not  true  that 
germs  are  an  advantage  by  reason  of  their  power  to 
reduce  and  liquify  dead  tissue  and  thus  aid  .in  relieving 
the  system?"  In  reply  this  eminent  doctor  said: 
"Dea'd  or  diseased  tissue  can  indeed  be  gotten  rid  of  by 
fermentative  and  other  changes  induced  by  germs,  but 
at  an  enormous  expenditure  of  vital  energy  and  tissue- 
cells."  Again  he  says:  "While  the  results  following 
germ  action  do  serve  to  get  rid  of  dead  or  diseased 
tissue,  they  do  so  in  a  dangerous  and  wasteful  manner." 
Again,  "Dead  tissue  or  dying  tissue  can  be  removed 
only  by  either  putrefactive  changes  or  by  a  combina- 
tion with  suppurative  processes,  if  germs  be  present, 
yet  no  such  combination  obtains  in  the  absence  of 
germs." 

Then  he  argues  that,  "Cancellous  tissue  and  the 
medullary  canal  are  hollowed  out  of  solid  bone." 
Also,  "The  means  by  which  all  tissue  waste  is  removed 
during  the  constant  physiological  breaking  down  and 
building  up  of  tissue."  In  this  way  the  professor  says : 

"Extensive  masses  of  dead  tissue,  osseous  as  well  as 


70  MICROBES   AND    HEALTH. 

soft,  are  removed  unconscious!}"  in  the  absence  of 
germs/' 

The  trouble  with  the  professor  is,  he  is  unable  to 
distinguish  between  physiological  and  pathological 
conditions  or  changes.  All  will  understand  that  germ 
action  has  nothing  to  do  with  the  physiological  or 
natural  changes,  repair  and  waste,  constantly  going  on 
in  a  healthy  system,  as  mentioned  by  the  professor,  but 
only  applies  to  diseased  conditions  where  waste  is 
present  in  unusual  amounts. 

In  maintaining  life  and  health  the  different  cells 
of  the  body  are  constantly  taking  up  nourishment  and 
giving  off  an  equal  amount  of  waste  in  the  form  of 
dead  matter.  This  is  nature's  plan,  and  so  long  as 
health  is  maintained  each  cell  in  the  body  must  do  its 
part.  Cells  are  not  replaced  all  at  once,  but  so  grad- 
ual are  worn-out  particles  cast  off  and  replaced  by 
new,  that  weeks  and  months  are  required  to  complete 
the  change.  In  disease  it  is  different,  as  a  whole  cell 
or  a  great  number  of  them  may  die  at  one  time.  What 
is  to  be  done?  They  cannot  be  eliminated  whole,  and 
the  surrounding  healthy  cells  are  unable  to  go  beyond 
their  own  borders.  They  have  enough  to  do  to  take 
care  of  their  own  business,  and  especially  since  disease 
is  present.  It  is  in  conditions  like  these  that  germs 
from  the  external  world,  finding  their  way  into  the 
system  as  they  do  constantly,  float  along  in  the  cir- 
culation and  lodge  in  the  dead  tissue,  produce  fermen- 
tation, and  the  dead  tissue  is  broken  up  and  eliminated. 

The  professor's  teaching  applied  to  health  is  correct ; 
applied  to  disease  and  it  becomes  ridiculous  at  once. 


GEKMS.  71 

Take  the  "extensive  masses  of  dead  tissue"  destroyed 
by  an  ulcer,  by  an  abscess,  by  a  burn  or  by  gangrene, 
where  a  hand  or  foot  is  destroyed  in  a  few  hours.  Now 
apply  the  professor's  words,  "Extensive  masses  of  dead 
tissue  are  removed  unconsciously  in  the  absence  of 
germs." 

Is  that  true  ?  Did  any  one  ever  know  of  "extensive 
masses  of  dead  tissue"  sufficient  to  produce  ulcer  or 
abscess  to  be  removed  without  the  presence  of  germs? 
Did  any  one  ever  know  of  "extensive  masses  of  dead 
tissue"  in  moist  gangrene,  or  in  any  other  disease,  to 
be  removed  without  the  presence  of  germs?  Why  are 
germs  present  in  such  cases?  Because  it  is  nature's 
plan.  They  are  needed  to  reduce  dead  tissue  when 
occurring  in  any  considrable  amount. 

Why  are  germs  absent  during  the  elimination  of 
natural  waste  produced  in  health,  as  mentioned  by 
the  professor?  Because  this  is  nature's  plan  also. 
Here  they  are  not  needed.  The  waste  is  given  off  in 
the  form  of  a  watery  vapor,  and  in  such  small  quantities 
that  it  can  be  readily  eliminated. 

The  foregoing  is  taken  from  a  personal  letter,  and 
the  doctor  here  referred  to  is  still  professor  in  one  of 
our  leading  university's  medical  department,  and  is 
authority  in  bacteriology. 

In  the  Review  of  Eeviews  of  October,  1900,  page 
483,  Mr.  Maurice  L.  Johnson  asks  the  question:  "Are 
microbes  pathogenic?"  And  proceeds  to  answer  the 
question  with  an  emphatic  denial.  He  quotes  a  paper 
from  that  eminent  authority,  George  B.  Bantock,  M.  D., 
F.  R.  C.,  S.  E.,  in  March  of  last  year,  in  which  the  doctor 


72  MICROBES   AtfD    HEALTH. 

presents  facts  to  show  that  the  modern  doctrine  of 
bacteriology  is  a  gigantic  mistake,  and  states  that  the 
various  microbes  play  a  beneficent  role  in  the  economy 
of  nature. 

As  Doctor  Bantock  and  other  eminent  authorities  as- 
sure us  the  germs  which  have  come  to  be  regarded  as 
the  cause  of  the  most  virulent  disease  are  constantly 
swarming  in  perfectly  healthy  people,  and  in  their  de- 
crescense  (diminishing)  are  frequently  attended  with 
unfavorable  results,  there  is  good  grounds  for  believing 
them  to  be  necessary  and  beneficent. 

Even  that  great  germ  theorist,  Doctor  Osier,  says: 
"It  should  be  strongly  emphasised  that  those  bacteria 
which  cause  disease  are  only  a  few  species,  all  other 
contributing  to  our  welfare  in  countless  ways."  "Only 
a  few  species  cause  disease  ?"  Yes.  Why  does  Doctor 
Osier  say  this,  simply  because  he  is  only  able  to  find 
a  few  species  in  diseased  tissue,  for,  as  stated  on  page 
48,  such  tissue  supplies  nourishment  for  a  few  species 
only.  Strange  this  brilliant  man  cannot  see  that  these 
"few  species"  are  the  result  and  not  the  cause  of  dis- 
ease. Doctor  Osier  admits  that  the  so  called  pneu- 
monia germ  is  present  in  twenty  per  cent  of  healthy 
people. 

Kijanitzin  claims  that  animals  placed  in  sterile  air 
emaciate  and  die  in  a  few  days.  That  in  breathing 
ordinary  air  the  germs  inhaled  yield  their  ferments  to 
the  action  of  the  tissues  of  the  body,  and  these  ferments 
are  necessary  to  promote  oxygenation.  If  the  microbe's 
supply  is  shut  off  the  ferments  disappear  from  the 
blood,  and  death  ensues. 


GEHMS.  73 

This  would  indicate  that  the  scheme  of  creation  is 
not  so  imperfect  after  all,  and  that  the  chain  of  mutual 
interdependence  that  links  together  animal  and  vege- 
table, rock  and  plant,  extends  also  to  the  germ  world, 
and  that  the  microbe  is  essential  to  the  life  of  the 
higher  form  of  animals. 

Bacteriologists  have  omitted  to  tell  us  about  diges- 
tion, elimination  and  exercise,  or  about  fresh  air,  pure 
water  and  sunshine.  They  forget  to  tell  us  that  bad 
habits  may  again  produce  the  same  disease,  that  alcohol 
destroys  about  100,000  lives  every  year,  and  that  tobacco 
produces  many  fatal  maladies,  yet  they  prove  their 
loyalty  by  antitoxins  and  animal  extracts  manufac- 
tured by  themselves.  These  are  but  the  revival  of 
those  principles  and  that  commercial  enterprise  which 
a  few  years  ago  gave  us  Berckley's  Panacea,  the  hydro- 
gen sulphide  cure  for  consumption;  Brown-Sequard's 
Elixir  of  Life;  Kadam's  Microbe  Killer;  Koch's  Tuber- 
culin, etc.;  all  failures,  yet  at  one  time  each  of  these 
created  its  furore  and  later  was  stored  away  in  the 
obsolete  archives  illustrative  of  the  credulity  of  the 
profession. 

These  remedies,  long  since  proven  worthless,  are 
now  replaced  by  antitoxins.  What  are  antitoxins? 
Bacteriologists  claim  that  germs  are  the  cause  of  dis- 
ease. The  germs  first  produce  a  poison  in  the  system 
and  disease  follows.  They  claim  that  antitoxin  when 
injected  into  the  body  of  the  patient  neutralizes  the 
poison,  destroys  the  germs  and  the  patient  recovers. 
Antitoxins  are  prepared  as  follows :  The  germs,  or  their 
waste  products  (ptomains),  are  injected  in  to  the  body 


74  MICROBES    AND   HEALTH. 

of  a  horse  or  some  other  animal.  The  bacteriologists 
claim  this  excites  a  counter-poison,  and  the  blood 
becoming  charged  with  this  counter-poison  is  drawn 
from  some  of  the  animal's  veins,  and  when  injected  into 
the  body  of  a  human  being  having  a  disease  produced 
by  this  particular  germ,  it  will  destroy  the  germ  and 
effect  a  cure.  This  is  called  serum  therapy. 

For  years  leading  medical  journals  and  prominent 
physicians  have  claimed,  and  bacteriologists  acknowl- 
edge, that  carbolic  acid  or  other  antiseptics  are  used 
to  prevent  the  decomposition  of  antitoxins;  hence  it  is 
claimed  that  any  virtues  which  antitoxins  possess  are 
due  solely  to  the  carbolic  acid. 

A  recent  editorial  in  a  leading  medical  journal  says: 
"If  carbolic  acid  alone  will  do  all  that  is  claimed  for 
antitoxin,  and  the  serum  alone  is  inert  if  not  poison- 
ous, where  is  the  sense  in  using  an  expensive  humbug  ? 
Why  make  the  patient  pay  fancy  prices  for  a  myth? 
Why  involve  medicine  in  the  obscurity  of  superstition 
again  ?  Why  support  and  give  countenance  to  a  fraud  ? 
Is  or  is  not  this  quackery,  even  though  it  sit  in  high 
places  ?" 

Instinct  teaches  us  that  nature  did  not  place  in  the 
secretions  of  the  lower  animals  the  elements  necessary 
for  the  preservation  of  human  life.  Antitoxins  and 
the  germ  theory  will  run  a  natural  course  and  die  a 
natural  death,  like  other  fads  and  delusions. 

There  is  one  disease  especially  which  bacteriologists 
claim  to  cure  with  antitoxin,  and  that  disease  is  diph- 
theria; yet  the  fact  that  antitoxin  statistics  for  diph- 


GERMS.  75 

theria  are  based  on  cases  diagnosed  by  the  microscope, 
destroys  their  value  as  evidence,  for  to-day  every  phy- 
sician understands  that  repeated  and  painstaking 
examinations  have  proven  the  absence  of  the  germ  in 
some  of  the  most  virulent  cases  of  diphtheria,  and 
again  it  may  be  present  for  weeks  at  a  time  in  the 
mouths  and  throats  of  healthy  children.  The  pres- 
ence of  the  germ  depends  upon  the  vitality  and  nutri- 
tion of  the  throat  structures,  and  the  amount  and 
character  of  the  exudations.  A  severe  case  of  diph- 
theria with  a  well  organized  membrane,  with  dry  and 
swollen  surrounding  structures, '  would  present  a  poor 
medium  for  the  development  of  germs,  and  in  such 
cases  germs  may  be  absent. 

A  bacteriologist  may  examine  fifty  children,  and  by 
the  aid  of  the  microscope  he  may  find  the  so  called 
diphtheria  germ  present  in  the  throats  of  one-half  the 
number.  He  immediately  reports  twenty-five  cases  of 
diphtheria,  uses  his  antitoxin  and  again  reports  a  cure 
in  each  case,  when  the  facts  are,  there  may  not  have 
been  a  single  case  of  diphtheria  among  those  reported. 
Bacteriologists  know  this  to  be  true. 

In  the  Eeview  of  Reviews  for  October,  1900,  Dr. 
Bantock  states  (page  483):  "The  misconceptions  in 
regard  to  germs  seem  to  have  arisen  from  the  mistak- 
ing of  an  effect  for  a  cause.  For  example  the  diph- 
theria germ  has  been  looked  upon  as  the  cause  of  diph- 
theria, while  it  is  universally  admitted  that  it  is  con- 
tinually present  in  perfectly  healthy  mouths  and 
throats.  But,  of  course,  when  an  individual  contracts 
diphtheria  all  the  microbes  which  are  swarming  in  his 


76  MICROBES    AND    HEALTH. 

system,  including  this  denizen  of  the  throat,  must  par- 
ticipate in  the  contamination  and  acquire  the  diph- 
theritic diathesis,  so  when  under  such  conditions,  it 
has  been  taken  and  injected  into  animals  and  they 
have  developed  the  diphtheria,  the  false  assumption 
has  arisen  that  this  microbe,  harmless  enough  when 
taken  from  a  healthy  person,  was  the  cause  of  diph- 
theria, because  it  induced  the  disease  when  taken  from 
a  diphtheritic  patient,  any  other  microbe  or  emanation 
from  whom  would  have  possessed  the  same  diseased 
property." 

Dr.  Bantock  says  in  substance  that  germs  are  pres- 
ent in  every  healthy  system,  and  that  if  taken  from  a 
healthy  system  they  will  not  produce  disease,  but  after 
having  been  in  contact  with  diseased  tissue  they  may 
carry  disease  the  same  as  any  other  substance,  the 
same  as  a  bandage  or  towel  that  has  been  in  contact 
with  a  diseased  part.  Dr.  Bantock  says  germs  are  both 
'"necessary  and  a  benefit." 

Begarding  antitoxin  for  diphtheria,  it  is  important 
to  remember  that  diphtheria  is  a  self-limited  disease, 
a  disease  of  short  duration,  and  under  favorable  hy- 
gienic surroundings  and  good  general  management 
usually  terminates  favorably,  otherwise  the  life  of  anti- 
toxin for  diphtheria  would  have  been  as  short  as  the 
tuberculin  of  Koch. 

As  stated,  in  the  recent  past,  bacteriologists  have 
manufactured  and  used  antitoxins  for  many  diseases, 
but  they  have  proved  such  utter  failures  that  of  late 
we  hear  little  of  them  except  antitoxin  for  diphtheria 
.-as  just  mentioned.  The  others  have  faded  from  view 


GEEMS.  77 

until  even  the  most  enthusiastic  bacteriologist  is 
ashamed  to  speak  of  them.  Antitoxins  for  diphtheria 
will  meet  the  same  fate. 

The  author  recently  addressed  four  letters  to  four 
leading  centers  of  information,  asking  for  evidence- 
showing  that  antitoxin  without  carbolic  acid  or  other 
antiseptic;  i.  e.,  the  animal  serum,  in  and  of  itself  has 
any  power  to  cure  disease.  Three  of  the  offices  ad- 
dressed were  prominent  germ  theorists.  This  gives 
them  the  advantage. 

The  first  answer  given  is  from  a  leading  germ  theor- 
ist and  professor  of  bacteriology  in  two  leading  me'dical 
colleges,  dividing  his  time  between  the  two  schools. 
He  says:  "Do  not  allow  yourself  to  get  crosswise  on 
the  diphtheria  antitoxin  question.  The  serum  is  cura- 
tive beyond  a  doubt.  The  opposition  is  limited  to  the- 
most  ignorant  homeopaths." 

Does  that  prove  anything  in  favor  of  antitoxin? 

No. 

Does  it  prove  anything  else? 

No. 

The  second  answer  is  from  a  prominent  firm  of  man- 
ufacturing chemists,  and  also  leading  germ  theorists. 
This  firm  stands  very  high  in  the  scientific  mind.  They 
say:  "It  is  our  opinion  that  the  addition  of  anti- 
septics to  antitoxin  is  not  absolutely  necessary.  It 
has  been  demonstrated  that  serum  in  itself  has  cura- 
tive powers,  in  regard  to  which  we  would  refer  you  to 
the  works  of  Crookshank  of  England,  and  Metschnikoff 
of  Paris."  This  is  the  same  Metschnikoff  who  gave  us 
the  "theory"  of  the  white  blood-corpuscles. 


78  MICROBES    AND    HEALTH. 

Then  this  firm  advises  the  use  of  certain  prepara- 
tions manufactured  by  themselves,  as  being  far  supe- 
rior to  antitoxin,  and  closed  by  saying:  "Physicians 
all  over  the  United  States  advocate  the  usage  of  our 
products  in  preference  to  antitoxin." 

Does  this  second  answer  prove  anything  for  anti- 
toxin ? 

No.  On  the  other  hand  it  is  practically  an  admis- 
sion that  antitoxin  is  without  value. 

They  say:  "It  is  our  opinion,"  so-and-so,  and  then 
discard  antitoxin  for  goods  manufactured  by  them- 
selves. The  two  answers  just  quoted  are  from  personal 
letters. 

The  third  answer  is  also  from  a  leading  firm  of 
manufacturing  chemists.  Perhaps  this  firm  stands 
highest  in  authority — Merck  &  Co.  of  New  York. 
Their  answer  appeared  in  Merck's  Archives  for  July, 
1900,  page  80,  as  follows: 

"The  reports  of  the  first  experiments  performed  with 
antitoxin  indicated  that  the  experimenters  used  per- 
fectly pure  and  antiseptic-free  antitoxin.  It  was  only 
when  they  were  compelled  to  keep  it  that  antiseptics 
were  used,  and  then  they  had  to  determine  if  the  anti- 
septic would  destroy  its  curative  properties.  On  find- 
ing that  it  would  not  they  were  able  to  send  it  out  as 
a  commercial  article.  A  study  of  the  results  of  the 
use  of  antitoxin,  as  shown  by  various  articles  that  have 
from  time  to  time  appeared  in  the  Archives,  will  show 
Dr.  W.  that  no  such  effects  could  in  any  degree  be 
accounted  for  by  the  use  of  creosote,  carbolic  acid  or 
other  such  remedy." 


GERMS.  79 

Does  this  third  answer  prove  anything  favorable  for 
antitoxin  ? 

No. 

What  does  it  prove? 

Nothing.  It  is  only  a  statement  from  those  who 
have  faith  in  the  remedy.  They  do  not  say  that  dis- 
ease was  ever  cured  or  even  influenced  by  antitoxin, 
and  state  that  the  first  experiments  only  "indicated" 
so-and-so. 

Who  were  the  experimenters  ? 

Germ  theorists,  of  course,  the  same  men  who  ex- 
plained (?)  immunity  on  page  31. 

The  fourth  answer  was  by  a  personal  letter,  as  fol- 
lows: "We  are  pretty  familiar  with  antitoxin  litera- 
ture, pro  and  con,  and  we  do  not  believe  antitoxin 
serum  alone  has  ever  been  used.  In  fact,  it  would  be 
dangerous  to  do  so,  for  it  begins  to  undergo  changes 
immediately,  the  carbolic  acid  or  other  antiseptic  is 
incorporated  during  the  process  of  manufacture. 
Nothing  has  ever  been  found  in  the  antitoxin  except 
the  antiseptics.  Antitoxin  is  simply  a  combination  of 
horse-serum,  carbolic  acid  and  faith.  Carbolic  acid  has 
an  old  and  flattering  history  in  the  successful  treat- 
ment of  diphtheria,  scarlet  fever,  typhoid  fever  and 
other  infectious  diseases.  Especially  is  it  useful  in 
the  small  doses  as  employed  in  antitoxin.  The  evi- 
dence which  antitoxin  has  accumulated  for  itself  has 
been  manufactured  by  carbolic  acid.  The  serum  alone 
has  nothing  back  of  it  except  theory,  assertion  and 
credulity." 

The  center  from  which  this  authority  emanates  is 


SO  MICROBES   AXD    HEALTH. 

second,  perhaps,  to  none,  and  is  undoubtedly  true. 
They  state  that  carbolic  acid  or  other  antiseptics  are 
incorporated  during  the  process  of  manufacture,  and 
this  destroys  that  part  of  Merck's  reply  in  which  they 
state  that  antitoxin  serum  was  ever  used  alone. 

In  the  Medical  Visitor  for  March,  1900,  page  143,  is 
the  following  article  from  the  Wisconsin  Medical 
Recorder,  showing  the  folly  of  mortality  statistics  for 
diphtheria  as  furnished  by  the  bacteriologists,  who 
claimed  such  a  high  death-rate  before  antitoxin  was 
used: 

"Those  cities  which  now  have  a  low  general  death-rate 
from  all  causes  also  show,  as  would  be  expected,  a  low 
diphtheria  death-rate.  This  is  true  of  Chicago  and 
Milwaukee.  New  York  City,  which  at  present  has  a 
very  low  general  death-rate  compared  with  many  years 
in  the  past,  naturally  has  a  corresponding  low  diph- 
theria mortality. 

"It  is  a  common  assumption  that  the  mortality  from 
diphtheria  used  to  be  40  per  cent  before  antitoxin  times, 
which  is  as  absurd  as  it  is  untrue.  Certainly  at  times 
40  per  cent  of  the  patients  died.  The  mortality  was 
very  much  higher  than  40  per  cent  in  some  epidemics. 
Ferrand  in  1827  related  that  in  an  epidemic  all  of  the 
60  patients  died.  Bretonneau  in  1826  quoted  Carne- 
vale  as  saying  that  in  Chiaja  near  Naples  the  greater 
part  of  those  attacked  succumbed.  Ozonam's  sum- 
ming up  of  39  epidemics  from  1559  to  1805  showed 
80  per  cent  mortality.  Then  the  tables  of  epidemics 
from  1805  to  1830,  made  by  the  Academic  Royale  de 
Medicine,  gives  the  death-rate  as  25  per  cent.  But 


GERMS.  81 

Beauquin  in  1828  lost  only  4.6  of  300  cases.  Eoll  in 
1850  said  that  in  Drontheim,  Norway,  of  some  700 
cases  only  about  7  per  cent  died.  Lespeau  in  1854 
wrote  that  in  one  regiment  of  200  cases  only  6  per  cent 
were  lost.  And  Mackinder  reported  in  1859  a  death- 
rate  of  only  0.25  per  cent  in  400  cases  in  Gainsborough, 
England.  Were  this  great  disparity  in  the  diphtheria 
death-rate  before  antitoxin  times  kept  in  mind,  perhaps 
we  would  not  so  often  be  treated  to  the  amusing  argu- 
ment that  because  the  death-rate  has  declined  a  few 
degrees  in  some  places  since  antitoxin  has  been  intro- 
duced, therefore  antitoxin  is  responsible  for  the  im- 
provement. 

"How  can  a  thing  be  considered  a  specific  which  gives 
11.8  per  cent  mortality  in  the  Berlin  Kaiser  und 
Kaiserin  Friedrich  Kinderkrankenhaus,  and  at  the 
same  time  allows  a  mortality  of  23  per  cent  in  the 
Philadelphia  Municipal  Hospital,  being  more  than 
double  the  mortality  in  one  institution  than  in  the 
other?  Quinine  would  not  be  called  a  specific  if  it 
could  not  cure  intermittent  fever  as  well  in  Chicago 
as  it  does  in  St.  Petersburgh  or  any  other  city.  Until 
antitoxin  brings  down  the  diphtheria  death-rate  to  a 
point  lower  than  it  ever  was  before,  and  keeps  it  at 
that  point,  in  every  place,  it  must  be  considered  a 
failure. 

"Within  the  writer's  knowledge  diphtheria  occurred 
in  the  families  of  four  physicians  in  this  city.  Of  the 
patients  two  received  antitoxin  and  promptly  died. 
The  other  two  were  not  treated  with  antitoxin  and 
recovered.  It  is  fair  to  assume  that  the  antitoxin- 


82  MICROBES    AND    HEALTH. 

treated  cases,  being  in  doctors'  families,  were  not  neg- 
lected and  that  the  treatment  was  begun  early  in  the 
disease. 

"There  is  no  convincing  evidence  that  antitoxin 
exerts  any  influence  on  the  false  membrane  in  causing 
its  early  detachment  or  disappearance,  or  in  prevent- 
ing it  from  spreading.  Even  if  it  did,  it  would  not 
signify  much,  for  the  membrane  is  simply  the  effect 
of  something,  it  is  not  the  disease.  Patients  often  die 
after  the  membrane  has  disappeared.  The  diphtheritic 
lesion  is  identical  anatomically  with  croupous  inflam- 
mation due  to  traumatic  and  other  causes.  Back  of 
the  formation  of  the  false  membrane  is  that  deranged 
condition  of  the  system  permitting  the  growth  of  per- 
nicious bacteria,  which  abnormal  state  is  really  the 
disease.  We  do  not 'know  but  what  the  formation  of 
the  false  membrane  is  nature's  method  of  protecting 
the  patient,  and  until  it  shuts  off  the  air  from  the 
lungs  the  membrane  may  serve  some  useful  purpose. 
Eupp  couldn't  see  any  effect  on  the  membrane  in  his 
twenty-four  antitoxin-healed  cases,  in'such  a  way  as  to 
be  beyond  doubt. 

"It  is  a  common  thing,  in  cases  not  treated  with 
antitoxin,  for  the  membrane  to  begin  to  fall  off  after 
the  first  day,  to  disappear  completely  in  three  of  four 
days.  Eupp  needed  to  visit  two  cases  which  were  not 
treated  with  antitoxin  only  four  days,  and  one,  a 
croupal  case,  only  three  days.  The  diagnosis  in  each 
case  was  confirmed  by  bacteriological  examination. 
Bretonneau  in  his  classical  work  on  diphtheria  dis- 


GERMS.  83 

tinctly  taught :  *  You  will  remark  that  at  the  first  day 
of  the  appearance  a  radical  cure  may  be  obtained  in 
forty-eight  hours/  Yet  antitoxin  advocates  claim 
everything,  because  in  some  cases  treated  with  antitoxin 
the  false  membrane  begins  to  disappear,  as  they  say, 
early;  in  two  or  three  days  (Wiemer),  or  three  or  four 
days  (Baginsky).  This  also  happens  earlier  and  later. 
In  fact,  with  antitoxin  it  is  often  very  much  later. 
Chapin  speaks  of  seven-year  old  patients  receiving 
4,500  units  on  the  third  day,  with  the  result  that  the 
throat  cleared  only  after  six  days,  and  later  the  mem- 
brane partly  reformed.  Winters  saw  it  remain  ten 
days  in  two  cases,  and  in  another  at  the  end  of  the 
twenty-second  day  it  was  still  present. 

"It  is  conceded  that  eruptions  are  often  caused  by 
the  injection  of  antitoxin.  Engelman  and  Morse  de- 
scribe cases  of  urticaria.  Myer  saw  urticarial  rash  in 
one  case,  and  a  macular  eruption  in  another.  Berg, 
in  summing  up  his  observations,  concludes:  fln  very 
many  cases  the  eruption,  if  at  all  general,  is  at  least 
a  discomfort/  In  others  a  decided  increase  in  the 
gravity  of  the  disease  accompanies  the  appearance  of 
the  eruption,  which  is  present  in  at  least  ten  per  cent 
of  cases  treated  with  antitoxin.  Martin  and  Hunt  saw 
the  eruption  in  27.5  per  cent  of  178  antitoxin-treated 
cases.  The  London  Asylums'  Hospital  Eeport  for  1896 
says  the  eruption  appeared  in  35.2  per  cent  of  the 
cases  treated  with  antitoxin. 

"Joint  troubles  also  follow  the  use  of  antitoxin. 
Lombard  had  one  case  in  which  there  was  pain  in  the 


84  MICROBES    AND   HEALTH. 

joints.  Fleisch  describes  a  case  in  which  swelling  of 
the  hip-joint  occurred.  Perregeaux  mentions  thirty 
cases  of  joint-trouble  following  the  use  of  antitoxin. 

"Before  antitoxin  was  used  in  the  Willard  Parker 
Hospital  16  per  cent  of  the  fatal  cases  died  of  pneu- 
monia. During  nine  months  of  1895,  53  per  cent  of 
the  deaths  were  caused  by  this  disease.  Winters 
thought  the  enormous  increase  of  pneumonia  has  no 
other  explanation  than  the  hypodermic  injection  of 
serum  (antitoxin). 

"Finally  we  have  the  startling  fact  that  the  injec- 
tion of  antitoxin  for  the  purpose  of  immunization  has 
killed  many  people.  Korach  and  Alfoldi,  and  many 
others,  have  reported  deaths  following  prophylactic 
doses  of  antitoxin." 

In  1895  Dr.  Cordeiro  concluded  his  report  on  diph- 
theria antitoxin  to  the  surgeon-general  of  the  navy  in 
these  words: 

"As  yet  we  have  not  the  slightest  basis  on  which  to 
found  an  expectation  that  fewer  children  will  die  in 
the  future  of  this  disease  on  account  of  the  serum 
treatment,  and  every  year  adds  fresh  testimony  con- 
firming the  justness  of  this  decision. 

"And  from  all  the  bad  effects  caused  by  the  use  of 
antitoxin  it  follows  that  many  lives  have  been  sacri- 
ficed which  might  have  been  saved  with  the  usual 
time-honored  remedies/' 

Will  antitoxin  cure  diphtheria  ? 

Here  we  learn  that  it  requires  many  years  to  form 
an  estimate  of  the  number  of  deaths  from  contagious 
diseases.  And  even  without  the  foregoing  history 


GERMS.  85 

every  practical  mind  will  recognize  at  once  the  impor- 
tance of  such  time.  Yet  in  spite  of  such  necessary 
evidence  some  of  our  State  Boards  of  Health,  in  their 
haste  to  rush  into  print  and  thus  keep  their  names 
prominently  before  the  public,  stated  in  a  recently 
published  bulletin,  "That  nearly  all  the  contagious  dis- 
eases prevalent  in  their  state  show  a  marked  decrease 
during  the  quarter  just  ended  in  comparison  with  the 
first  three  months  of  the  present  year,"  etc.,  etc.  Com- 
ment is  unnecessary,  except  to  remind  the  reader  that 
the  bulletin  issued  by  the  board  was  paid  for  out  of 
the  public  money. 

If  it  were  true  that  germs  cause  disease,  could  any 
one  prepare  an  antitoxin  intelligently  or  successfully 
until  after  the  germ  had  been  discovered  and  the  nature 
of  its  poison  understood?  No;  no  more  than  a  doctor 
could  treat  any  other  case  of  poisoning  without  first 
knowing  the  kind  of  poison  taken. 

Have  we  had  an  antitoxin  for  yellow  fever  ?     Yes. 

Has  a  germ  ever  been  discovered  that  will  cause  this 
disease?  No.  A  few  years  ago  Sanarelli,  an  Italian, 
claimed  to  have  discovered  such  a  germ,  and  at  the 
time  enthusiastic  believers  accepted  the  statements  as 
true.  To-day  bacteriologists  themselves  admit  they 
have  no  germ  that  will  cause  yellow  fever.  To  prove 
this  it  is  only  necessary  to  state  that  a  few  years  ago  the 
bacteriologists  instituted  the  most  strict  quarantine  reg- 
ulations in  every  case  of  yellow  fever,  to-day  all  quaran- 
tine regulations  are  abandoned. 

Then  we  have  an  antitoxin  for  the  destruction  of  a 
certain  germ  before  such  germ  is  discovered?  Yes. 


86  MICROBES   AND   HEALTH. 

Take  the  so  called  diphtheria  germ,  and  the  barrels 
of  antitoxin  that  have  been  manufactured  to  destroy 
this  germ  and  its  poison.  It  now  develops  that  bac- 
teriologists themselves  are  in  doubt  as  to  having  dis- 
covered the  guilty  bug.  Inquiry  among  them  will 
convince  the  reader  that  for  several  years  they  have 
been  disputing  among  themselves,  some  claiming  that 
the  germ  first  decided  upon  is  the  cause  of  diph- 
theria, and  others  claiming  other  germs.  Some  claim 
that  it  requires  a  mixture  of  these  germs.  Admit- 
ting for  the  moment  that  germs  cause  diphtheria, 
the  bacteriologists  could  not  tell  to-day  what  germ 
produces  the  disease.  Here  again  we  have  an  antitoxin 
for  the  destruction  of  a  germ  or  its  poison  before  such 
germ  or  poison  is  discovered?  Yes. 

Again,  bacteriologists  themselves  admit  there  are 
many  cases  of  diphtheria  when  no  germ  can  be  found. 

Bubonic  Plague. 

While  bacteriologists  claim  this  disease  is  caused  by 
a  germ,  it  is  well  known  there  is  no  germ  that  will  pro- 
duce such  a  disease,  yet  the  modern  bacteriologists  have 
prepared  and  used  an  antitoxin  which  they  inject  into 
the  system  to  cure  the  black  shadow  of  the  east,  as  the 
plague  is  sometimes  called. 

It  is  well  known  there  is  no  germ  that  will  cause 
hydrophobia.  Green's  Pathology,  page  311,  says:  "No 
hydrophobia  organism  has  yet  been  discovered."  And 
we  have  an  antitoxin  for  the  destruction  of  such  a 
germ?  Yes,  Pasteur,  a  Frenchman,  established  such 
a  treatment  several  years  ago. 


GERMS.  87 

Again,  the  bacteriologists  admit  they  have  no  germ 
that  will  cause  cholera,  page  341,  Green's  Pathology 
states,  "that  during  an  epidemic  of  cholera  the  drink- 
ing water  of  Versailles  contained  the  cholera  vihros, 
yet  those  who  drank  the  water  remained  unaffected," 
and  "that  the  organism  persisted  in  the  water  for 
months  after  the  epidemic  had  ceased,  and  therefore  the 
appearance  of  the  microbe  in  the  water  did  not  neces- 
sarily involve  the  appearance  of  an  epidemic." 

All  must  admit  that  antitoxins  cannot  be  intelli- 
gently or  successfully  prepared  without  first  knowing 
the  nature  of  the  germs  or  poison  against  which  they 
are  to  be  used.  Then  why  do  we  have  so  many,  and 
why  do  we  have  them  before  the  discovery  of  the  germs 
for  which  the  various  antitoxins  are  prepared?  The 
National  Medical  Review  for  May,  1900,  page  620,  con- 
tains an  article  in  which  antitoxin  is  mentioned.  The 
article  states  that  a  tube  containing  1  c.  c.,  or  about 
15  drops,  sells  for  $1.00,  and  a  vial  containing  10  c.  c., 
or  about  150  drops,  sells  for  $7.50.  Fifteen  drops  of 
blood-serum  from  a  dumb  brute  $1.00,  150  drops  of 
blood-serum  from  a  dumb  brute  $7.50!  Antitoxin  for 
diphtheria  costs  about  $3.00  for  each  dose.  Merck  & 
Co.  speak  of  antitoxin  as  a  commercial  article.  That 
was  a  happy  thought  for  the  manufacturers.  Why  do 
we  have  antitoxins  first  ?  Why — that  is — well,  perhaps 
the  bacteriologists  themselves  would  rather  answer  that 
question. 

The  Health  Boards  of  New  York  City  and  Phila- 
delphia speak  of  the  germs  of  scarlet  fever  and  of 
measles  as  a  matter  of  course,  and  for  years  bacteri- 


88  MICROBES    AND   HEALTH. 

ologists  have  taught  the  public,  including  school  chil- 
dren, that  all  infectious  diseases  are  caused  by  germs. 
Are  they?  Have  they  ever  found  a  germ  that  will 
cause — 

Scarlet  fever?     No. 

Measles  ?    No. 

Yellow  fever?    No. 

Cholera?    No. 

Pneumonia  ?     No. 

Bubonic  plague?     No. 

Typhoid  fever?     No.     (See  typhoid  fever.) 

Smallpox?     No. 

Cancer  ?     No. 

Whooping-cough  ?     No. 

Chicken-pox  ?     No. 

Hydrophobia  ?     No. 

Influenza  (grip)?     No. 

Diphtheria?     No.     Bacteriologists  do  not  agree. 

Even  Prof.  Osier  is  quoted  as  saying:  "Strange  as 
it  may  seem,  the  most  typical  of  all  infectious  diseases, 
smallpox,  scarlet  fever,  hydrophobia,  etc.,  have  as  yet 
not  yielded  up  their  secrets." 

For  years  bacteriologists  have  been  teaching  the 
public,  including  the  school  children,  that  all  contagi- 
ous diseases  are  caused  by  germs?  Yes,  and  at  the 
same  time  they  admit  they  cannot  find  any  germs  that 
will  produce  the  diseases?  Exactly;  every  bacteriolo- 
gist knows  this  to  be  true. 

Have  they  ever  found  a  germ  that  would  ever  cause 
a  disease  of  the  heart,  brain,  liver  or  kidneys?  No. 
Many  people  suppose  that  germs  have  been  found  that 


GERMS.  89 

will  produce  each  of  the  diseases  just  named,  but  this 
is  not  true.  It  is  true,  however,  that  at  one  time  bac- 
teriologists found  certain  germs  which  they  claimed 
would  produce  some  of  the  diseases,  but  not  all;  and 
as  already  stated,  they  themselves  proved  by  later  de- 
velopments that  they  were  mistaken.  In  order  to  show 
the  remarkable  efforts  which  they  put  forth  to  prove 
the  presence  of  the  germ,  permit  the  author  to  quote 
briefly  from  the  Washington  Star  of  June  18,  1900: 
The  question  of  hydrophobia  was  discussed,  and  the 
statement  was  made  that  the  disease  was  "Almost  cer- 
tainly caused  by  a  living  germ"  (Ahem). 

But  let  us  admit  for  a  moment  that  hydrophobia  is 
caused  by  a  germ.  Bacteriologists  teach  that  all  germ 
diseases  are  contagious.  Is  hydrophobia  contagious? 

Good  Lord  deliver  us  from  the  trials,  perplexities 
and  tribulations  of  a  germ  doctor. 

If  acute  diseases  are  caused  by  germs  as  claimed, 
and  an  antitoxin  prepared  from  the  diphtheria  germ 
as  described,  will  cure  diphtheria,  then  we  must  believe 
that  antitoxins  prepared  in  like  manner  from  each 
variety  of  germs  which  they  claim  cause  other  diseases 
will  also  cure,  as  already  stated.  Yet  everyone  under- 
stands that  antitoxin  will  not  cure  any  of  the  diseases 
just  mentioned. 

Will  antitoxin  cure — 

Pneumonia  ?     No. 

Typhoid  fever?     No. 

Tetanus  or  lockjaw? 

Smallpox?     No. 

Hydrophobia  ?     No. 


90  MICROBES   AND   HEALTH. 

Yellow  fever?     No. 

Cholera?    No. 

Scarlet  fever  ?     No. 

Measles  ?    No. 

Influenza  ?     No. 

Diphtheria?     No.     (See  antitoxin  for  diphtheria.) 

Bubonic  plague?  No.  Neither  will  it  cure  any 
other  disease. 

Health  boards  know  these  statements  are  true,  yet 
they  continue  to  send  out  their  delusive  advertisements 
concerning  antitoxins,  and  incidentally,  of  course,  they 
advertise  themselves  at  the  same  time. 

The  true  doctor  thinks  of  his  laborious  duties,  his 
constant  study  over  perplexing  medical  problems,  his 
gradually  acquired  knowledge  of  drugs,  of  symptoms 
and  of  the  laws  of  health;  then  he  looks  at  a  vial  of 
antitoxin,  he  reads  the  outrageous  price  asked  for  the 
humbug,  he  hears  the  imbecile  scientific  prattle  which 
supports  its  claims,  he  thinks  of  giving  a  patient  poi- 
soned serum  depraved  by  the  septic  processes  going  on 
in  the  animal  from  which  it  was  obtained,  then  he 
laughs  long  and  softly  as  he  thinks:  "What  fools  we 
mortals  be!" 

For  years  germ  theorists  have  taught  that  milk, 
used  as  food,  has  been  a  more  or  less  common  source 
for  the  spread  of  tuberculosis,  or  consumption.  In 
.fact,  so  widespread  has  a  belief  in  this  teaching  become 
that  many  states  have  enacted  laws  resulting  in  the 
destruction  of  vast  numbers  of  cattle,  supposed  to 
have  been  infected  with  the  so  called  consumptive 
germ;  but  we  now  learn  that  the  evidence  upon  which 


GERMS.  91 

this  wholesale  destruction  has  been  carried  on  is  merely 
a  supposition,  like  other  germ  theories. 

Page  157  of  the  Medical  Visitor  for  March,  1900, 
contains  the  following  article  taken  from  the  Medical 
Standard:  "An  Article  on  the  Subject  of  Bovine 
Tuberculosis  (consumption  in  cattle),  written  by  Dr. 
Edward  Moore,  the  well  known  veterinarian  of  Albany, 
N".  Y.,  has  appeared  in  the  New  York  Medical  Journal. 
An  experience  with  thousands  of  cases  of  bovine  tuber- 
culosis has  qualified  him  to  speak  with  a  certain  degree 
of  authority.  Dr.  Moore  quotes  the  bacteriological  evi- 
dence of  Dr.  Theobald  Smith,  of  the  United  States 
Agricultural  Department,  Washington,  D.  C.,  showing 
that  the  so  called  consumptive  germ  found  in  man  and 
that  found  in  cattle  are  entirely  different.  As  a  fur- 
ther proof  of  his  position  Dr.  Moore  finds  an  abundance 
of  clinical  evidence  in  the  every-day  lives  of  people  who 
are  constantly  exposed  to  the  infection  from  bovine 
tuberculosis.  It  is  self-evident  that  if  transmission  is 
possible,  the  farms  where  large  numbers  of  infected 
cattle  are  kept  are  places  where  the  fact  can  be  best 
observed,  because  nowhere  else  in  the  world  is  there  so 
much  infected  material;  nowhere  else  are  the  bacilli 
so  potent;  nowhere  else  are  people  so  exposed  to  the 
danger,  if  any  exists,  and  at  these  places,  feeding  and 
inhalation  experiments,  so  to  speak,  are  constantly  going 
on,  and  yet  personal  acquaintance  with  the  lives  of 
hundreds  of  people  exposed  to  every-day  infection  with 
these  germs,  and  extensive  inquiry,  have  failed  to  reveal 
a  single  case  of  tuberculosis  contracted  in  this  manner." 


92  MICROBES   AND    HEALTH. 

"Evidence  of  a  similar  character  is  given  by  Prof. 
Adams  in  an  address  delivered  at  the  meeting  of  the 
Canadian  Medical  Association." 

The  presence  or  absence  of  germs  signifies  but  little 
except  to  the  bacteriologist,  to  whom  germs  are  the 
chief  source  of  power.  They  are  sounding  the  notes 
of  alarm  to  call  the  attention  of  the  dear  people  to  this 
new  danger,  and  save  them  from  the  horrible  fate  of 
the  streptococcus;  and  strange  enough,  each  of  these 
sentinels,  these  sympathizers,  is  ready  to  prove  his  sin- 
cerity by  offering  a  means  of  escape  in  the  form  of  an 
antitoxin,  prepared  from  dumb  brutes.  These  anti- 
toxins are  manufactured  by  the  bacteriologists  them- 
selves, who  offer  them  for  sale  at  a  price  that  would 
cause  the  Standard  Oil  Company  to  blush  with  shame. 
Their  real  value  can  be  expressed  by  the  figure  0. 

For  years,  the  more  advanced(  ?)  bacteriologists  have 
been  brooding  in  the  laboratories  over  test  tubes  and 
microscopes,  working  with  the  various  liquid  mediums, 
raising  little  bugs,  and  by  injecting  them  into  animals 
they  have  been  trying  to  disclose  the  mysteries  of  dis- 
ease. By  this  means  they  have  daily  arrived  at  new 
and  more  important  conclusions.  These  conclusions 
have  emanated  from  the  sacred  incubators,  which  were 
presided  over  by  the  professors  themselves.  Many  of 
these  incubators  are  in  Germany,  and  the  others  ought 
to  be.  These  discoveries  would  be  of  vastly  more  bene- 
fit if  kept  secret  within  the  walls  of  the  renowned  insti- 
tutions in  which  they  were  born.  Bacteriologists  pub- 
lish sensational  accounts  of  the  dire  evils  which  would 
happen  to  the  people  if  it  were  not  for  their  deep  study 


GEKMS.  93 

and  watchful  care.  When  we  read  the  glowing  ac- 
counts of  these  life  preservers  we  feel  that  "life,  liberty 
and  the  pursuit  of  happiness"  are  little  enough  to  give 
in  return.  But,  alas,  after  the  bacteriologists  have 
reached  the  topmost  wave  of  prosperity,  it  is  discovered 
that  germs  are  not  at  all  diagnostic  of  disease,  for  to- 
day it  is  well  known  that  any  germ  that  ever  twisted 
or  wriggled  may  inhabit  the  human  body  without  pro- 
ducing sickness. 

Since  bacteriology  is  supported  largely  by  State 
Boards  of  Health,  and  as  these  health  boards  have  al- 
most unlimited  control  of  all  infectious  disease,  refer- 
ence to  this  organization  may  not  be  out  of  place.  First, 
let  us  notice  their  system  of  advertising.  The  following 
is  from  the  regular  published  statements  of  the  board 
itself.  To  a  recent  inquiry  sent  to  one  of  our  State 
Boards,  asking  the  means  used  to  warn  the  people  of 
the  presence  of  a  certain  disease,  the  secretary  replied 
in  the  Grand  Ledge  Michigan  Independent,  under  date 
of  October  19,  1900,  as  follows: 

"The  means  used  to  warn  the  people  are  numerous, 
and  the  state  pays  for  such  sanitary  work.  Every  case 
of  disease  dangerous  to  the  public  health  must  be  re- 
ported to  the  secretary  of  the  State  Board.  The  secre- 
tary sends  a  package  of  leaflets  and  requests  their  dis- 
tribution among  the  neighbors  of  the  premises  plac- 
arded. These  leaflets  warn  the  neighbors  of  a  danger- 
ous communicable  disease,"  etc.  In  the  same  article 
the  secretary  states :  "Some  of  the  means  used  by  the 
office  of  the  State  Board  of  Health  to  warn  the  people 
are  regular  bulletins  issued  weekly  and  monthly,  and 


94  MICROBES   AND   HEALTH. 

sent  to  editors  of  newspapers  and  others;  by  special 
hektograph  items  sent  from  time  to  time  to  newspapers 
throughout  the  state ;  letters,  telegrams,  telephone  mes- 
sages, etc."  According  to  this,  State  Boards  of  Health 
are  permitted  to  use,  free  of  charge,  every  known  means 
for  conveying  thought  or  speech. 

Is  this  the  reason  the  public  hear  so  much  about 
germs  and  germ  diseases,  and  is  it  the  reason  people 
become  so  frightened  whenever  a  contagious  disease 
enters  a  community  ? 

"These  leaflets — advertising  sheets — warn  the  neigh- 
bors of  a  dangerous  communicable  disease." 

Does  not  such  wholesale  advertising  create  a  sense 
of  fear  and  dread  wherever  disease  enters  a  commu- 
nity, and  in  many  cases  lower  individual  resistance  and 
thus  render  disease  more  dangerous  and  fatal  ? 

A  belief  that  one  is  surrounded  by  germs  from  which 
there  are  no  means  of  escape,  and  which  are  liable  to 
bring  sickness  and  death  renders  the  individual  more 
or  less  helpless  and  demoralized,  and  aids  materially  in 
the  spread  of  disease,  and  in  many  cases  may  be  re- 
sponsible for  a  fatal  termination. 

In  the  March,  1900,  number  of  Physician  and  Surgeon 
is  the  following:  "When  some  months  ago  the  report 
of  the  terrible  deaths  of  several  physicians  in  Vienna 
went  through  the  whole  civilized  world — deaths  said  to 
be  caused  by  an  infection  with  the  pest  bacillus,  the 
most  deadly  microbe  yet  discovered — the  question  was 
freely  discussed  whether  such  dangerous  experiments 
should  be  carried  on  in  the  laboratory  and  hospitals, 


GERMS.  95 

and  whether  such  experiments  were  not  too  reckless 
undertakings,  overrating  human  control  over  nature's 
forces.  Vienna  and  the  whole  Austrian  empire  be- 
came panic-stricken.  The  impending  danger  of  a 
murderous  epidemic  was  thought  of,  the  principals  of 
the  laboratories  were  severly  criticized,  and  an  excited 
populace  threatened  to  mob  them.  The  power  of  the 
most  minute  organisms  was  brought  to  light,  the  mani- 
festation of  their  force  was  terrible,  the  sufferings  and 
misery  which  they  created  in  the  limited  circle  where 
they  were  handled  convinced  even  the  most  pronounced 
skeptic  that  bacteriology  has  not  to  deal  with  hypo- 
thetical questions,  but  with  living  factors." 

Why  were  the  people  of  Vienna  excited  and  "panic- 
stricken?"  Because  of  the  teachings  of  the  bacter- 
iologists. 

What  became  of  this  "murderous  epidemic"  that  was 
about  to  break  forth  and  produce  such  "terrible  suf- 
fering"? Why,  about  that  time  the  bacteriologists 
turned  their  attention  to  something  else  and  the  people 
forgot  all  about  it. 

Does  this  not  prove  what  we  claim,  viz. :  That 
the  mythical  teachings  of  bacteriology  are  the  very 
best  means  of  producing  a  panic  in  any  commu- 
nity or  country?  And  is  it  not  also  true  that,  while 
laboring  under  this  condition  of  excitement  the  powers 
of  resistance  are  lowered  and  people  more  liable  to 
contract  the  disease?  And  the  disease  more  liable  to 
prove  fatal?  It  is  assumed  that  when  any  of  the 
boards  of  health  wish  to  secure  the  passage  of  a  new 


96  MICROBES    AXD    HEALTH. 

law,  they  exert  a  little  of  the  "Vienna  influence"  upon 
a  body  of  "panic-stricken"  legislatures  and  success  is 
assured. 

Instead  of  advertising  senseless  panics,  the  individual 
physician  should  be  allowed  to  show  the  true  cause  of 
disease,  teach  the  influence  of  climatic  and  atmospheric 
conditions,  the  great  benefits  of  cleanliness,  temper- 
ance, regularity,  diversion,  contentment,  etc.  In  a 
word,  the  ordinary  laws  of  health.  This  would  not 
only  aid  in  rendering  disease  less  prevalent,  but  would 
also  aid  in  supporting  the  patient  when  disease  is 
present. 

State  Boards  of  Health  claim  that  it  is  through  their 
efforts  that  disease  is  becoming  less.  The  secretary 
just  quoted  says,  "And  the  statistics  collected  and  pub- 
lished by  the  Secretary  of  State  show  that  the  death- 
rate  has  been  less,"  etc. 

Who  collects  all  statistics,  makes  all  estimates,  draws 
all  conclusions  and  gives  all  credit  to  the  board  of 
health?  Why  the  members  of  the  board  itself.  And 
there  is  none  to  examine  the  verdict?  None.  There 
is  only  one  side  to  the  question  presented?  Only  one. 

Quoting  again  from  the  above  article  the  secretary 
says:  "The  introduction  of  sewerage  and  general 
water  supply  has  been  followed  by  the  reduction  of 
disease."  "In  those  cities  where  there  are  sewers  and 
a  general  water  supply  the  death  rate  is  very  much  less 
than  in  those  cities  without  sewerage  and  general  water 
supply." 

Exactly;  and  this  sewerage  and  other  sanitary  science 
which  mark  the  progress  of  our  modern  cities  would 


GERMS.  97 

have  been  the  same  if  bacteriological  health  boards  had 
never  been  thought  of.  In  this  respect  a  company  of 
business  men  could  accomplish  all  that  bacteriologists 
have  ever  accomplished  and  comparatively  would  cost 
nothing. 

The  many  "new  discoveries"  which  bacteriologists 
and  the  various  health  boards  claim  to  make  remind 
us  of  the  horse  presented  to  the  young  minister  by  his 
congregation.  The  young  man's  father  came  to  see 
him.,  and  going  out  to  see  the  horse,  exclaimed: 
"Couldn't  your  congregation  give  you  a  better  horse 
than  that  ?"  "That  is  a  better  animal  than  our  Saviour 
rode  to  Jerusalem,"  replied  the  young  man,  opening  the 
animal's  mouth  to  examine  his  teeth,  the  old  gentle- 
man exclaimed:  "I  believe  it's  the  same  one!" 

Health  boards  have  many  of  their  "new  discoveries" 
written  up  by  the  editor  of  some  newspaper,  or  they 
may  appear  in  pamphlet  form,  as  did  the  following, 
Avhich  was  issued  by  the  Michigan  State  Board  of 
Health  for  February,  1900 : 

A  doctor  living  in  Detroit  is  asking  how  to  check  an 
epidemic  of  measles,  and  wishes  some  advice  from  the 
Attorney  General.  Following  is  the  Attorney  General's 
reply,  though  not  given  in  full.  The  reply  introduces 
a  new  and  novel  feature  in  advertising,  which  is  worthy 
the  consideration  of  all  who  depend  upon  printers'  ink 
arrayed  in  many  colors,  with  flashy  headlines : 

"State  of  Michigan,  Attorney  General's  Office, 

"Lansing,  January  29,  1897. 

"Samuel  P.  Duffield,  M.  D.,  health  officer  of  the  City 
of  Detroit: 


98  MICROBES   AND    HEALTH. 

"My  Dear  Sir— Yours  of  Jan.  21,  directed  to  Dr. 
Baker"  (secretary  State  Board  of  Health),  "in  which 
you  ask  him  to  submit  to  me  a  hypothetical  question, 
as  to  what  course  should  be  adopted  by  you  in  your 
efforts  to  suppress  the  epidemic  of  measles,  which  I 
understand  is  now  prevailing  in  your  city,  has  .been 
duly  considered,"  etc.,  etc. 

"The  highest  medical  authority  which  I  recognize  in 
this  state  on  such  subjects  is  the  Michigan  State  Board 
of  Health,"  etc.  In  a  pamphlet,  "A  Quarter  Century 
of  Public  Health  Work  in  Michigan,"  page  20,  we 
understand  the  health  board  itself  claims  to  be 
"The  highest  authority"  on  "What  are  the  dangerous 
communicable  diseases." 

What  could  the  Attorney  General  be  expected  to 
know  about  "suppressing  an  epidemic  of  measles  ?" 

Why  did  Dr.  Duffield  submit  this  question  to  the 
Attorney  General  ?  Judging  from  recent  developments 
regarding  the  "immortal  nineteen"  it  would  seem  as 
though  the  Attorney  General  of  Michigan  would  have 
enough  to  do  to  attend  to  the  duties  of  his  office,  but 
then  he  may  have  possessed  the  same  commendable 
spirit  as  did  the  old  lady,  and  the  health  board  know- 
ing this  in  advance  were  sure  of  a  favorable  answer, 
and  all  will  agree  that  when  the  Attorney  General  at- 
tempts to  "suppress  an  epidemic  of  measles"  in  Detroit 
or  anywhere  else  the  proceedings  ought  to  be  published. 

The  old  lady  referred  to  always  had  a  good  word  for 
everybody,  and  a  bet  was  made  that  she  could  be  in- 
duced to  condemn  the  acts  of  some  one.  The  devil 
was  chosen  as  the  one  against  whom  the  old  lady,  it 


GERMS.  99 

was  supposed,  would  cast  unfavorable  remarks.  After 
a  brief  mention  of  the  wickedness  going  on  in  the 
world,  and  incidentally  stating  that  the  devil  was  the 
cause  of  it  all,  the  old  lady  was  asked  what  she  thought 
of  the  evil  one.  The  reply  was  prompt:  "I  think 
his  persistency  is  truly  commendable." 

If  we  wished  to  prosecute  a  criminal  we  would  seek 
support  from  the  Attorney  General.  If  we  wished  to 
advertise  ourselves  we  would  seek  aid  from  some  gentle- 
man who,  like  the  editor  of  the  Laramie  City  Boome- 
rang, won  the  public  heart  and  later  held  first  place  as 
writer  and  humorist.  Of  course  all  are  acquainted  with 
Mr.  Nye  as  a  writer,  and  the  following  is  given  here 
simply  to  call  attention  to  his  ability  to  write  advertise- 
ments. Having  a  cow  for  sale,  Mr.  Nye  wrote  a  notice 
similar  to  the  following : 

"Owing  to  ill  health  I  will  sell  at  my  residence  one 
plush  raspberry-colored  cow.  She  is  a  good  milkster, 
and  is  not  afraid  of  the  cars  or  anything  else.  She  is 
of  undulated  courage  and  gives  milk  frequently.  To 
one  who  does  not  fear  death  in  any  form  she  would  be 
a  great  boon.  She  is  much  attached  to  her  home  at 
present,  by  means  of  a  stay-chain.  She  is  one-quarter 
shorthorn  and  three-quarters  hyena.  I  will  throw  in  a 
double-barrel  shotgun  and  a  second-hand  tombstone. 
I  would  prefer  to  sell  her  to  a  non-resident." 

We  do  not  wish  to  be  understood  as  advising  health 
boards  how  to  advertise,  for  we  understand  they  are 
already  proficient  in  that  respect,  in  fact  it  is  their  pro- 
ficiency that  suggested  Mr.  Nye's  name. 

Briefly  noted,  another  evidence  of  their  proficiency 


100  MICROBES    AND   HEALTH. 

is  found  in  the  following:  "A  Quarter  Century  of 
Public  Health  Work  in  Michigan,"  issued  in  July,  1898, 
by  the  State  Board  of  Health,  Chief  Clerk  states,  on 
page  23 :  "In  the  report  for  1897  will  be  found  such 
a  study  that  estimates  that  149,296  cases  of  sickness 
and  7,121  deaths  have  been  saved  during  the  seven 
years,  1890-'96,"  etc.,  etc. 

Page  24  states,  "The  money  values  saved  to  the  tax- 
payers in  Michigan  through  the  work  of  the  state  and 
local  health  officials  is  enormous. 

"As  stated  in  the  preceeding  head,  during  the  seven 
years,  1890-'96,  it  is  probable  that  there  were  saved 
149,296  cases  of  sickness  and  7,121  deaths  from  diph- 
theria, scarlet  fever,  typhoid  fever  and  measles — four 
infectious  and  preventable  diseases." 

In  its  annual  report  for  1897  the  State  Board  of 
Health  estimates  that  the  total  money  value  saved  the 
people  of  Michigan  is  $6,973,680,  or  a  little  less  than 
one  million  dollars  per  year. 

"In  these  estimates  it  is  believed  that  each  life  saved 
represents  at  least  $500  less  than  the  price  of  a  slave 
during  war  times,  and  each  case  of  sickness  avoided 
represents  a  saving  of  at  least  $40  for  funeral  expenses, 
etc.*'  Some  of  the  above  quotation  is  under  the  head- 
ing, "Life  Saving  in  Michigan." 

The  reader  is  cautioned  not  to  read  the  title,  "Life 
Saving  Machine."  The  words  are  similar,  but  the 
manner  of  operating  is  altogether  different.  Machines 
are  generally  operated  by  steam, .while  health  boards 
are  operated  by  theory.  . 

"One  hundred  and  forty-nine  thousand  two  hundred 


GERMS.  101 

and  ninety-six  cases  of  sickness  and  seven  thousand  one 
hundred  and  twenty-one  deaths  have  been  saved"  in 
seven  years.  Who  says  so?  Why,  the  health  officers. 
How  do  they  know?  They  "studied  and  estimated," 
and  then  by  placing  the  value  of  a  human  life  at  $500, 
these  same  health  officers  tell  us  that  they  are  saving 
the  state  nearly  one  million  dollars  a  year.  It  will  be 
seen  that  by  shifting  the  studies,  changing  the  "esti- 
mate" and  increasing  or  diminishing  the  value  of  hu- 
man life,  the  profits  may  be  correspondingly  increased 
or  diminished. 

The  Michigan  Health  Board  only  claims  to  save  the 
state  one  million  dollars  on  four  diseases.  We  are 
acquainted  with  a  health  officer  from  another  state 
who  claims  they  save  three  million  dollars  on  one  dis- 
ease. The  difference  is  all  in  the  "estimate"  and  the 
value  placed  on  human  life  as  mentioned. 

The  health  board  claims  that  diphtheria  and  scarlet 
fever  are  "preventable  diseases."  To  the  writer's 
knowledge  scarlet  fever  has  been  epidemic  in  a  certain 
part  of  Michigan  during  the  past  three  years,  yet  every 
case  was  under  the  control  of  a  health  officer.  Why 
did  not  the  health  officers  stop  it  ?  . 

Diphtheria  was  epidemic  in  Lansing,  Michigan  for 
many  months  during  the  year  1900.  The  health  board 
had  full  control;  why  did  they  not  stop  it?  Why  did 
they  allow  it  to  "run  its  course,"  which  it  certainly  did  ? 
The  writer  has  heard  it  freely  stated  that  about  the  year 
1898  typhoid  fever  was  notoriously  prevalent  and  fatal 
in  Philadelphia.  Why  did  not  the  health  board  stop  it  ? 
Is  this  the  way  the  board  of  health  "prevents  sickness 


102  MICROBES   AND   HEALTH. 

and  death  ?"  They  claim  their  "saving  to  the  taxpayer 
is  enormous/'  and  prove  this  by  "studies,  probabilities 
and  estimates."  Why  this  uncertainty?  Because  they 
are  dealing  in  theory. 

Anything  which  health  boards  can  do  to  establish 
and  maintain  cleanliness  should  be  encouraged;  that 
is  the  only  thing  they  ever  have  or  ever  can  do  to  pre- 
vent sickness  or  cure  disease,  and  as  stated  elsewhere 
a  company  of  business  men  could  accomplish  just  as 
much  in  this  direction  and  comparatively  would  cost 
nothing. 

In  the  foregoing  quotation  the  health  board  states 
that  "each  case  of  sickness  avoided  represents  a  saving 
of  at  least  $40  for  funeral  expenses/'  According  to 
this,  every  disease  treated  by  the  health  board  ends 
fatally,  for  if  every  case  "avoided  represents  a  saving 
of  $40  funeral  expenses,"  then  every  case  where  dis- 
ease develops  must  end  fatally.  In  this  case  the  health 
board  is  to  be  congratulated  for  its  honesty,  for  we 
are  not  acquainted  with  any  other  class  of  physicians 
who  are  willing  to  admit  of  so  large  a  percentage  of 
failures. 

Let  us  see  what  others  think  of  health  boards.  In 
the  discussion  of  a  medical  question  in  Detroit  recently, 
as  reported  on  page  570,  Physician  and  Surgeon  for 
October,  1899,  a  prominent  doctor  said:  "I  certainly 
believe  that  the  state  of  our  society  at  the  present  time 
does  not  warrant  any  such  measures  as  are  being  taken 
by  the  State  Board  of  Health  to-day.  I  do  not  think 
that  the  profession,  as  a  whole,  in  this  state  will  back 
up  the  State  Board  of  Health  in  this  connection,  and 


GERMS.  103 

one  of  the  difficulties  is  that  the  man  who  has  charge  of 
the  board  of  health  in  this  state  is  a  man  who  has  never 
practised  medicine.  He  is  a  man  who  gets  all  the 
knowledge  he  has  on  the  subject  from  a  study  of  the- 
oretical books.  His  knowledge  is  the  knowledge  of  the 
laboratory  and  not  of  the  practical/' 

Can  men  who  spend  much  of  their  time  in  labora- 
tories inoculating  and  experimenting  upon  the  lower 
animals  understand  much  about  disease,  or  appreciate 
the  needs  of  the  sick  ?  The  Physician  and  Surgeon  for 
February,  1900,  contains  an  article  in  which  is  stated, 
page  85:  "Paralysis  has  been  assigned  as  the  disease 
causing  death  in  seventy  cases  in  Detroit  during  the 
year,  from  July,  '98,  to  June,  '99,  according  to  the 
Annual  Eeport  of  the  Board  of  Health  just  issued. 
People  die  of  paralysis,  convulsions  and  dropsy  in 
Philadelphia,  New  York  and  in  cultured  Boston,  ac- 
cording to  the  death  record  from  these  and  other  cities. 
Yet  these  are  not  diseases,  they  are  only  symptoms 
which  point  to  disease.  Paralysis  bears  the  same  rela- 
tion to  disease  in  the  nervous  system,  that  cough  does 
to  disease  in  the  lungs,  but  health  boards  accept  it  as 
disease  itself,  and  accept  symptoms  as  the  cause  of 
death."  Are  health  boards  "the  highest  medical  au- 
thority?" 

A  pamphlet  just  issued  by  the  Michigan  State  Board 
of  Health  says  regarding  disinfection:  "For  a  room 
ten  feet  square  three  pounds  of  sulphur  should  be  used; 
for  larger  rooms  proportionately  increased  amounts." 
According  to  bacteriology  disinfection  means  to  remove 
from  or  destroy  certain  germs  which  they  claim  are  the 


104  MICROBES   AND    HEALTH. 

cause  of  disease.  After  a  room  has  been  used  by  one 
having  a  so  called  infectious  disease,  they  order  the 
room  closed  and  fumigated  with  sulphur.  Sulphur 
fumes  cause  a  grimy  deposit  over  the  walls,  furniture 
and  other  articles  with  which  they  come  in  contact; 
leave  a  disagreeable  odor  for  days  or  weeks,  and  often 
cause  an  irritating  and  disagreeable  cough  among  those 
occupying  apartments  in  which  sulphur  has  been 
burned. 

If  it  were  true  that  germs  cause  disease,  the  burn- 
ing of  sulphur  would  do  no  good,  for  sulphur  fumes 
will  not  destroy  germs.  Merck  &  Co.  are  among  those 
highest  in  authority.  Eegarding  the  effect  of  sulphur 
fumes  upon  germs  the  April  number  of  Merck's  Ar- 
chives, page  159,  states:  "Such  fumes  have  no  effect 
upon  dry  spores  and  can  only  affect  such  germs  as  are 
in  a  moist  condition/'  It  is  needless  to  add  that  a  dry 
room  contains  no  germs  in  a  moist  condition,  and  that 
the  fumes  of  sulphur  are  utterly  worthless. 

Personal  letters  from  other  authorities  contain  these 
words:  "Fumes  of  sulphur  as  ordinarily  used  in  a 
dry  room  will  not  destroy  germs."  Every  chemist  in 
the  land  understands  that  germs  are  not  affected  by 
sulphur  fumes.  The  foregoing  is  mentioned  simply 
to  show  the  value  in  a  community  of  bacteriology  and 
its  theories. 

If  the  air,  walls,  ceilings,  floors,  carpets,  furni- 
ture and  other  contents  of  a  room  are  wet  with 
water  or  steam,  and  then  exposed  to  the  fumes  of 
burning  sulphur,  many  innocent  germs  might  be  de- 


GERMS.  105 

stroyed.  Everything  else  in  the  room  would  be  de- 
stroyed also,  for  the  fumes  of  sulphur  (sulphurous  acid) 
in  the  presence  of  water  attracts  oxygen  from  it.  The 
fumes  also  attract  oxygen  from  any  and  all  kinds  of 
colored  goods.  This  would  destroy  them  at  once,  as 
all  colors  contain  oxygen.  This  increase  in  oxygen 
changes  the  weak  sulphurous  acid  into  the  strong 
sulphuric  acid,  and  this  would  destroy  every  article  of 
clothing,  carpets,  curtains,  upholstered  goods,  etc. 
True,  these  may  be  removed,  but  in  most  cases  they  are 
not,  and  if  they  were,  the  strong  sulphuric  acid  would 
still  attack  the  woodwork,  first  destroying  the  varnish 
and  paint,  and  then  affect  more  or  less  the  wood  it- 
self, leaving  a  black  stain. 

The  solution  of  a  certain  gas  in  water  is  called 
formaldehyde.  Like  the  fumes  of  sulphur  this  is  very 
irritating.  It  is  sometimes  used  instead  of  sulphur 
fumes,  but  when  sprayed  into  a  room  formaldehyde 
loses  its  strength  in  from  ten  to  fifteen  minutes.  When 
exposed  to  air  it  undergoes  a  change  and  is  destroyed. 
This  fact  renders  it  worthless  for  general  use. 

We  see  that  it  is  impossible  for  the  ingenuity  of  man 
to  destroy  nature's  weapons  (germs).  Pure  air  and 
sunshine  are  the  only  disinfectants,  and  the  only  pos- 
sible advantage  in  using  sulphur  fumes  or  formaldehyde 
is,  that  rooms  in  which  they  have  been  used  require 
free  ventilation  for  a  long  time  in  order  to  get  rid  of 
their  irritating  effects,  and  the  fresh  air  thus  secured 
will  cleanse  the  rooms.  It  would  have  done  the  same 
thing  without  the  so  called  disinfectants. 

It  is  well  known  that  bacteriology  is,  and  always  has 


106  MICROBES   AND   HEALTH. 

been,  supported  principally  by  State  Boards  of  Health. 
The  members  of  these  boards  have  created  and  are  now 
filling  many  new  offices,  at  a  probable  expense  of  many 
million  dollars  a  year.  Human  nature  is  the  same  in 
the  breast  of  a  political  doctor  who  is  seeking  office, 
as  in  the  breast  of  any  other  politician  seeking  office. 
These  are  facts,  and  as  such,  we  see  no  harm  in 
stating  them.  Are  boards  of  health  the  "highest  medi- 
cal authority  ?" 

Dr.  Koch. 

Dr.  Koch  lives  in  Germany.  Perhaps  that  is  the 
reason  a  few  American  doctors  once  thought  he 
possessed  supernatural  power.  A  few  years  ago  Dr. 
Koch  discovered  a  germ  which  he  claimed  was  the  cause 
of  consumption. 

For  a  time  Dr.  Koch  posed  as  a  leader,  but  many  of 
his  followers  have  deserted  him,  and  in  the  minds  of 
others  he  is  reduced  to  the  rank  and  file.  Soon  after 
the  discovery  of  his  new  bug  Dr.  Koch  claimed  to  dis- 
cover a  new  remedy,  which  he  called  tuberculin.  It 
should  be  remembered  that  in  Germany  it  does  not 
take  long  to  discovery  a  new  remedy.  Most  anything 
will  do,  so  long  as  it  is  indefinite  and  profitable.  It  is 
admitted  upon  all  sides  that  Dr.  Koch  never  cured  a 
single  case  of  consumption  with  his  tuberculin,  but 
it  is  claimed  he  charged  $25.00  for  each  hypodermic 
injection,  and  that  he  made  a  fortune  out  of  it.  Koch 
claimed  to  have  discovered  tuberculin,  yet  it  has  been 
stated  in  print  that  he  did  not  discover  it,  but  stole  it 
from  the  true  discoverer,  Samuel  D.  Dixon,  of  Phila- 
delphia. 


GERMS.  107 

Dr.  Koch  has  since  prepared  a  substance  called  T.  E., 
which  he  claims  will  cure  consumption.  This  prepara- 
tion is  made  from  the  germs  themselves,  as  the  doctor 
now  claims  they  contain  a  substance  that  will  cure  the 
disease,  and  the  care  and  attention  to  detail  with  which 
the  doctor  (Koch)  prepares  his  T.  E.,  is  a  perfect  revela- 
tion of  the  ingenuity  of  a  crazy  Dutchman  who  lives  in 
Germany. 

The  doctor  takes  a  culture  of  young  germs  which  he 
claims  are  the  cause  of  consumption.  "He  first  dries 
the  germs,  then  grinds  them,  then  the  product  is  sus- 
pended in  water,  then  filtered  and  dried  and  pounded 
and  thrashed  and  treated  with  drug  solvents,  washed 
and  filtered  and  pounded  again,  then  made  into  an 
aqueous  solution,  decanted  and  pressed."  But  the 
doctor  is  not  yet  satisfied,  and  with  sleeves  rolled  up 
and  perspiration  dripping  from  every  pore,  he  still 
pursues  the  innocent  germ.  He  places  them  in  a 
centrifugal  machine  where  any  remaining  life  is  whirled 
out  of  them.  The  resulting  product  is  now  called 
T.  R. 

It  has  been  suspected  that  the  doctor,  becoming  dis- 
satisfied with  his  tuberculin,  is  equally  ashamed  of  his 
second  attempt,  hence  the  abbreviation  T.  E. 

Has  Dr.  Koch  ever  cured  a  case  of  consumption  with 
his  T.  E.  ?  No.  Even  that  standard  authority,  Green's 
Pathology,  page  314,  says :  "T.  E,,  up  to  the  present, 
seems  to  prove  that  it  has  no  curative  effect  on  tuber- 
culosis in  man.*'  Dr.  Koch  has  had  several  years  in 
which  to  prove  the  value  of  his  claims,  yet  consumption 
is  as  fatal  to-day  as  ever.  I  know  there  are  those  who 


108  MICROBES    AND    HEALTH. 

give  Dr.  Koch  much  credit  for  the  discovery  of  the 
germ  which  he  claims  causes  consumption.  Other 
investigators  have  discovered  other  germs  which  they 
claim  may  cause  consumption.  And  there  may  be 
varieties  of  germs  not  yet  discovered  which  inhabit  the 
lungs  during  this  disease. 

Having  utterly  failed  with  his  tuberculin  and  his 
T.  K.,  Dr.  Koch  has,  it  is  said,  turned  his  attention  in 
another  direction.  In  the  Chicago  American  of  Sunday, 
October  7,  1900,  Dr.  Koch  is  quoted  as  saying:  "That 
the  total  extirpation  of  malaria  is  possible  by  the  use 
•of  the  preparation  which  he  has  compounded."  The 
same  journal  also  states  that  Dr.  Koch  "regards  it 
practicable  by  the  addition  of  processes  he  has  dis- 
covered, to  purge  every  malarial  district  and  keep  it 
entirely  free  from  malaria." 

In  this  instance  there  is  no  reason  to  doubt  that 
"history  will  repeat  itself,"  and  that  Dr.  Koch's  secret 
remedy  for  malaria  will  prove  as  great  a  humbug  as 
did  his  tuberculin  and  his  T.  R. 

At  the  present  time  Dr.  Koch  is  being  much  dis- 
cussed by  reason  of  the  stand  he  has  recently  taken 
regarding  bovine  tuberculosis  in  man.  For  years  State 
Boards  of  Health  and  bacteriologists  have  been  teach- 
ing the  public  that  cows  milk  may  convey  the  disease 
(tuberculosis)  from  animal  to  man.  Now,  Dr.  Koch 
is  quoted  as  saying  that  "human  immunity  to  bovine 
infection  disposes  of  the  belief  of  the  infection  through 
dairy  products,  and  he  considers  this  source  of  danger 
so  slight  as  to  be  unworthy  of  precautionary  measures." 

Dr.  Koch  had  scarcely  made  his  bow  before  the  Brit- 


GERMS.  10D 

ish  Congress  before  many  American  bacteriologists 
claimed  they  never  said  there  was  danger  in  dairy 
products;  that  is,  not  so  awful  much  danger,  and  that 
it  would  only  be  kind  o'  dangerous  like  if  you  took  to 
much. 

That  reminds  us  of  another  class  of  people  who, 
after  spending  a  lifetime  in  trying  to  prove  the  earth 
flat,  said,  after  denial  was  useless,  that  they  never 
claimed  the  earth  was  flat;  that  is,  not  so  awful  flat; 
that  they  always  knew  it  was  kind  o'  rounding  like. 

In  the  foregoing  there  is  nothing  original  with  Dr. 
Koch.  Prof.  Moore  of  Albany,  K  Y.,  and  Prof.  Theo- 
bold  Smith  of  the  United  States  Agricultural  Depart- 
ment, Washington,  D.  C.,  proved  some  time  ago  all  that 
Dr.  Koch  claims  at  the  present  time.  Prof.  Adams 
also  gave  similar  evidence  some  time  ago  before  the 
Canadian  Medical  Association.  Doctor  Thomas  J. 
Mays,  professor  of  diseases  of  the  chest  in  the  Phila- 
delphia, Pa.,  Polyclinic,  etc.,  etc.,  and  a  well  known 
authority,  in  his  new  book,  Consumption,  Pneumonia, 
and  their  Allies,  page  191-4,  presents  indisputable  evi- 
dence that  man  is  not  susceptible  to  bovine  tuberculosis, 
and  this  information  dates  back  nearly  one  hundred 
and  fifty  years. 

But  then,  it  is  much  easier  for  Dr.  Koch  to  discover 
something  that  has  been  discovered  before.  This  gives 
him  the  same  opportunity  to  advertise  himself;  to  talk 
learnedly  and  extravagantly  about  wonderful  discover- 
ies; about  the  progress  of  medical  science,  stamping 
out  disease;  prophylaxis,  etc.  Yet  such  shallow  pre- 
tenses lack  the  penetration  of  thought,  the  practical 


110  MICROBES   AND    HEALTH. 

turn  of  mind;  the  loyalty  and  devotion  which  the 
searcher  after  the  eternal  truths  must  have  to  coax  from 
nature  her  secrets. 

For  years  America  has  been  the  dumping  ground 
for  more  foreign  therapeutic  frauds  than  all  the  re- 
maining nations  of  the  earth.  Continental  Europe 
seems  to  forget  that  every  condition  is  the  result  of  a 
natural  cause;  that  every  disease  is  the  result  of  a 
natural  cause,  and  that  every  cure  is  the  result  of  a 
natural  cause.  Yet,  to  this  simple  truth  in  philosophy, 
we  shall  come  at  last,  when  the  serum  therapy  and  the 
animal  extract  mania,  which  are  dominated  by  unrea- 
sonable teachings,  unillumed  and  unregulated  by  scien- 
tific intelligence  shall  have  spent  itself  (at  the  cost  of 
the  public)  and  gone  the  way  of  its  predecessors. 

Dr.  Metschnikoff. 

Doctor  Metschnikoff  is  a  Eussian.  He  is  the  one 
who  first  gave  out  the  theory  of  the  white  blood-cor- 
puscles destroying  germs.  Like  Doctor  Koch,  Metsch- 
nikoff for  a  time  posed  as  a  leader,  and  there  have  been 
a  few  American  doctors  so  eager  to  follow  in  the  foot- 
steps of  some  foreigner  that  they  considered  it  a  mark 
of  distinction  to  quote  Doctor  Metschnikoff. 

Why  are  they  silent  regarding  Dr.  Metsehnikoff's 
latest  departure,  which,  according  to  recent  published 
reports,  claim  in  substance  that  Prof.  Metschnikoff 
will  discover  a  serum  product  of  the  lower  animals 
which  will  prolong  human  life  to  two  hundred  and 
fifty  years?  The  professor  admits,  however,  that  he 
is  not  beyond  the  laboratory  stage. 


GERMS.  Ill 

Prof.  Koch  has  been  in  the  laboratory  stage  for 
many  years.  Prof.  Metschnikoff  says  "an  elephant 
lives  three  hundred  years,  therefore,  a  man  ought  to 
live  two  hundred  and  fifty."  He  says  the  decay  of  old 
age  is  brought  on  by  poisons  or  germs,  and  their  en- 
croachment upon  plebeian  cells. 

In  explaining  immunity,  page  31,  the  bacteriolo- 
gists speak  of  the  toxiphoric  cells,  and  explain  why 
hens  do  not  have  lockjaw.  I  wonder  if  they  ever  heard 
of  the  plebeian  cells  ?  Dr.  Metschnikoff  says  that  each 
of  the  different  organs  requires  a  different  serum,  there- 
fore there  will  be  a  series  of  these  serums.  In  closing 
the  professor  is  quoted  as  saying,  that  "scientifically 
the  possibility  of  prolonging  human  life  is  established, 
practically  God  only  knows  when  we  shall  discover  it." 

Scientifically  Prof.  Koch  has  been  curing  consump- 
tion for  many  years,  practically  God  only  knows  when 
he  will  discovery  the  secret.  Is  it  any  wonder  that 
Dr.  MetschnikofFs  followers  fail  to  come  to  his  sup- 
port? 

Prof.  Pasteur. 

Many  people  in  this  country  have  heard  of  Prof. 
Pasteur.  This  professor  was  a  Frenchman,  and  did 
not  propose  to  sit  idly  by  and  let  his  neighbor  Metsch- 
nikoff  absorb  all  the  glory;  for  it  is  reported  that 
at  the  Pasteur  Institute  a  series  of  serums  have  been 
discovered,  each  of  which  is  designed  to  regenerate 
some  particular  organ  and  prolong  human  life. 

We  have  heard  much  of  Prof.  Pasteur's  treatment 
for  hydrophobia,  yet  he  has  probably  never  cured  a 


112  MICROBES   AND    HEALTH. 

case  of  this  disease.  There  is  certainly  no  evidence 
of  such  a  cure,  cannot  be.  First,  because  ninety  per 
cent  of  the  people  bitten  by  "mad  dogs"  do  not  have 
hydrophobia;  and  second,  because  the  disease  may  de- 
velop years  after  the  person  is  bitten. 

At  the  recent  annual  meeting  of  the  British  Medical 
Association,  Dr.  George  Wilson,  an  eminent  English 
physician  and  medical  writer,  is  quoted  as  saying: 
"Pasteur's  treatment  for  hydrophobia  is  the  merest 
charlatanism" — quackery.  Again,  it  is  claimed  by  some 
writers  that  hydrophobia  in  France  has  been  steadily 
on  the  increase  since  Pasteur's  antitoxin  treatment  was 
established. 

It  requires  but  a  moment's  thought  to  see  that  in 
the  treatment  of  hydrophobia  Pasteur  is  as  helpless 
as  a  babe.  The  cause  of  hydrophobia  has  never  been 
discovered.  The  nature  of  the  poison  producing  the 
disease  is  unknown.  Therefore,  any  pretense  to  manu- 
facture an  antirabic  serum  or  antitoxin  is  a  fraud. 

The  following  is  quoted  from  a  recent  article  on 
"Rabies  and  Hydrophobia,"  by  James  Howard  Thorn- 
ton, C.  B.,  M.  B.,  B.  A.  Fellow  of  Kings  College, 
London ;  deputy  surgeon  general  Indian  Medical  Service 
(retired) : 

"Rabies  in  reality  is  a  very  rare  disease.  The  popu- 
lar belief  to  the  contrary  arises  from  the  fact  that 
various  other  maladies  common  in  dogs  are  mistaken 
for  rabies.  It  has  been  ascertained  that  only  a  very 
small  proportion  of  the  bites  of  rabid  dogs  convey  the 
infection,  hence  the  likelihood  of  a  dog  bite  causing 
hydrophobia  is  extremely  small.  This  was  very  plainly 


GEEMS.  113 

shown  by  the  experience  of  the  police  in  London  dur- 
ing the  prevalence  of  the  Muzzling  Order  of  1885-?86. 
In  carrying  out  the  duties  of  capturing  stray  dogs,  the 
police  received  hundreds  of  bites,  but  in  no  single  in- 
stance did  any  of  these  bites  cause  hydrophobia,  though 
doubtless  many  of  them  were  inflicted  by  rabid  ani- 
mals. 

"The  experience  of  the  attendants  at  the  Battersea 
Dogs'  Home  is  even  more  striking.  That  institution 
had  then  been  thirty  years  in  existence.  The  bites  in- 
flicted on  the  attendants  during  that  time  amounted 
to  many  thousands,  some  of  which  must  have  been  re- 
ceived from  rabid  dogs.  Nevertheless  there  has  never 
been  a  case  of  hydrophobia  among  the  attendants.  A 
certain  proof  of  the  rarity  of  true  rabies  is  to  be  found 
in  the  facts  that  the  old  writers  attached  no  impor- 
tance to  it,  and  did  not  regard  it  as  a  serious  danger  to 
human  beings,  while  the  people  at  large  paid  no  at- 
tention to  it  at  all.  Until  a  very  recent  period  a  mad 
dog  was  thought  to  be  as  rare  as  a  black  swan,  and  it 
used  to  be  affirmed  that  there  never  was  more  than 
one  in  England  at  a  time.  But  now,  a  dog  has  only  to 
appear  excited  or  frightened  or  to  behave  in  an  unusual 
manner  and  immediately  the  cry  of  fmad  dog'  is  raised, 
and  the  unfortunate  animal  is  set  upon  and  killed. 

"I  was  for  many  years  in  medical  charge  of  a  large 
Indian  district,  with  a  population  of  nearly  two  mil- 
lions, and  had  under  my  superintendence  several  dis- 
pensaries, where  at  least  a  hundred  thousand  sick  and 
injured  persons,  including  numerous  cases  of  dog  bite, 
were  treated  every  year,  yet,  with  all  this  large  experi- 


114  MICROBES  AND  HEALTH. 

ence,  I  never  saw  a  case  of  hydrophobia  in  a  native  of 
India,  and  I  have  reason  to  believe  that  the  experience 
of  others  who  have  practiced  in  India  is  similar  to  mine. 

"The  rarity  of  hydrophobia  in  Great  Britain  is  shown 
by  the  statistics  of  the  Kegistrar  General,  from  which 
it  appears  that  for  the  forty  years  ending  1877,  the 
average  annual  death  rate  from  this  disease  in  England 
and  Wales  was  considerably  less  than  one  to  a  million 
of  the  population.  In  1862  only  one  death  took  place 
from  this  cause,  while  in  Scotland  only  three  cases  of 
the  disease  were  registered  during  the  years  1855-'74. 

"It  must  be  borne  in  mind  that  hydrophobia  never 
results  from  the  bite  of  a  healthy  animal,  and  further, 
that  a  very  large  majority  of  persons  bitten  by  undoubt- 
edly rabid  animals  escape  unharmed.  The  proportion 
who  contract  hydrophobia  are  variously  estimated  at 
from  five  to  twenty  per  cent.  John  Hunter  mentions 
a  case  in  which  out  of  twenty-one  persons  bitten  by  a 
rabid  dog  only  one  subsequently  died  from  hydrophobia. 

"These  particulars  plainly  show  how  foolish  and  un- 
reasonable are  the  periodical  scares  which  have  pre- 
vailed from  time  to  time  ever  since  public  attention 
was  drawn  to  this  subject  twenty  years  ago  by  the  sen- 
sational proceedings  of  M.  Pasteur  and  his  followers. 
Those  proceedings  have  produced  a  most  disastrous 
effect  upon  the  public  mind  by  giving  undo  prominence 
to  a  very  rare  disease,  and  by  needlessly  magnifying  a 
danger  so  slight  and  so  remote  as  to  be  scarcely  deserv- 
ing of  notice. 

"Contrary  to  universal  experience,  the  leading  con- 
tention of  M.  Pasteur  and  his  followers  has  always  been 


GERMS.  115 

that  rabies  among  dogs  and  hydrophobia  among  hu- 
man beings  are  very  prevalent  and  ever  present  dis- 
eases, which  constantly  demand  immediate  and  careful 
attention.  But  it  is  clear  from  the  preceding  remarks, 
that  this  view  is  altogether  erroneous. 

"About  1880  M.  Pasteur  commenced  his  researches 
on  hydrophobia,  and  in  the  course  of  a  few  years  he 
announced  that  he  had  devised  a  system  of  inoculation 
by  means  of  which  the  disease  could  be  prevented  in 
persons  bitten  by  rabid  animals,  provided  they  applied 
for  treatment  before  hydrophobia  set  in. 

"The  great  reputation  of  M.  Pasteur  as  an  eminent 
chemist,  and  a  distinguished  man  of  science  caused  his 
views  to  be  widely  accepted  throughout  the  civilized 
world,  and  great  numbers  of  frightened,  credulous  peo- 
ple flocked  to  him  for  treatment.  The  notoriety  of  his 
proceedings,  and  the  pernicious  prominence  which  was 
given  to  an  exceedingly  rare  disease,  produced  a  verita- 
ble panic  in  the  public  mind,  in  so  much  that  many 
persons,  without  the  slightest  reason,  fancied  them- 
selves in  danger  of  hydrophobia,  and  groundless  scares, 
resulting  in  foolish  muzzling  orders,  have  been  quite 
common  occurences  ever  since. 

"M.  Pasteur  varied  his  treatment  several  times,  using 
subcutaneous  injections  of  different  strengths,  the 
strongest  being  employed  in  what  he  called  the  inten- 
sive method.  So  many  deaths,  however,  occurred  from 
the  intensive  treatment  that  it  was  quickly  given  up. 

"Evidently  M.  Pasteur  was  not  at  all  sure  about  his 
system.  At  first  he  declared  positively  that  his  method 
would  protect  all  patients  at  any  time  before  hydro- 


116  MICROBES   AND   HEALTH. 

phobia  set  in,  but  subsequently  he  introduced  many 
corrections  and  limitations,  for  which  no  scientific  rea- 
son could  be  assigned. 

"For  instance,  he  did  not  profess  to  protect  unless 
the  patient  came  to  him  within  a  fortnight  of  being 
bitten.  He  did  not  reckon  deaths  which  occurred  dur- 
ing the  treatment,  or  within  a  fortnight  after  the  treat- 
ment. He  kept  no  record  of  the  patients  after  the 
treatment  was  ended,  and  took  no  account  of  deaths 
occurring  subsequently.  He  admitted  that  his  inocu- 
lations produced  only  temporary  effect,  and  that  re- 
inoculation  was  necessary  after  a  time,  and  he  did  not 
hesitate  to  claim  as  successful  cases,  any  number  of 
people  who  were  in  no  danger  of  contracting  the  dis- 
ease, as  well  as  cases  which  infringed  any  or  all  of 
these  conditions,  so  long  as  they  did  not  prove  fatal. 
All  these  limitations  were  purely  arbitrary,  and  were 
introduced  one  after  the  other,  to  account  for  and 
explain  away  deaths  which  continued  to  occur  in  spite 
of  the  Pasteurian  treatment,  though  had  that  treat- 
ment been  what  M.  Pasteur  professed  at  first,  these 
patients  ought  to  have  recovered. 

"The  Pasteurian  statistics,  indeed,  appear  to  have 
been  compiled  on  the  principle  of  Tleads,  I  win;  tails, 
you  lose;'  for  all  the  patients  who  did  not  die  were 
claimed  as  cures,  while  as  many  as  possible  of  the  fatal 
cases  were  eliminated  on  the  ground  that  they  were 
treated  too  late.  Here  is  a  striking  illustration  of  this 
peculiar  method:  On  the  14th  of  January,  1887,  Lord 
Doneraile  was  bitten  by  a  tame  fox;  he  underwent  the 
Pasteurian  antirabic  treatment  eleven  days  later,  and 


GERMS.  117 

died,  subsequently,  from  hydrophobia,  owing  (M.  Pas- 
teur said)  to  his  having  come  for  treatment  too  late. 
But  other  patients,  who  came  for  treatment  after 
periods  longer  than  eleven  days,  and  did  not  die,  were 
claimed  as  cures. 

"Any  kind  of  treatment  can  be  made  to  appear  suc- 
cessful in  this  way,  and  any  quack  remedy  for  hydro- 
phobia, such  as  that  of  the  Rev.  Dr.  Verity,  mentioned 
by  Dr.  Dolan  in  his  work,  entitled  "Pasteur  and  Rabies, 
might  show  a  similar,  or  even  a  larger  proportion  of 
alleged  cures.  Dr.  Verity,  indeed,  claimed  to  have 
treated  more  than  2,000  cases  without  a  single  failure, 
so  that,  if  the  statistics  are  to  be  believed,  his  record 
is  much  better  than  that  of  Pasteur. 

"The  Pasteurian  system  of  treatment  has  been  ex^ 
tensively  carried  out  in  France  since  1885,  and  had  it 
been  of  any  value  it  ought  to  have  reduced  the  mortality 
from  hydrophobia  in  that  country.  The  very  reverse 
is  the  case,  for  the  average  annual  mortality  from  thai 
disease  in  France  from  1850  to  1885  was  twenty-three, 
while  from  1885  to  1890  it  rose  to  thirty-nine,  namely 
twenty-two  among  Pasteur's  patients,  and  seventeen 
not  treated  by  his  method.  Thus  Pasteur's  treatment 
has  caused  the  death  rate  from  hydrophobia  to  rise 
by  sixteen  per  annum  in  his  own  country.  It  is  worthy 
of  note  that  a  similar  result  has  invariably  followed 
wherever  Pasteur  Institutes  have  been  established. 
Particular  attention  should  be  given  to  this  argument, 
as  it  can  neither  be  contradicted  nor  explained  away, 
and  it  plainly  shows  the  utter  worthlessness  of  the 
Pasteurian  treatment. 


118  MICROBES   AND   HEALTH. 

"It  would  have  been  far  better  for  the  world  if  M. 
Pasteur  had  never  turned  his  attention  to  hydrophobia, 
as  his  proceedings  have  done  much  harm,  and  it  can 
not  be  proved  that  his  treatment  has  prevented  the 
disease  in  a  single  instance.  Pasteurism  has  been  the 
cause  of  incalcuable  suffering  to  animals,  and  an  un- 
reasonable panic  among  timid,  nervous  people  all  over 
the  civilized  world,  insomuch  that  some  of  them  actu- 
ally developed  nervous  symptoms  simulating  hydro- 
phobia. 

"Besides  all  this  mischief  there  is  no  doubt  what- 
ever that  these  idiotic  inoculations  (to  borrow  an  adjec- 
tive which  Mr.  Paget  applies  to  the  Buisson  treatment) 
have  directly  caused  the  deaths  of  many  unfortunate 
persons  who  were  in  no  danger  until  they  were  induced 
to  resort  to  them. 

"The  apparent  success  of  the  Pasteurian  antirabic 
treatment  has  been  due  to  the  circumstances  that  the 
vast  majority  of  the  patients  were  in  no  danger  of 
hydrophobia,  and  that  the  fluid  with  which  they  were 
inoculated  was  generally  inert,  and  therefore  harmless. 

"The  Pasteurian  antirabic  has  been  condemned  by 
some  very  distinguished  men,  after  prolonged  and  care- 
ful investigation.  The  late  Professor  Peter,  of  Paris, 
pronounced  it  to  be  altogether  empirical  and  devoid  of 
scientific  basis,  and  he  delivered  a  crushing  indictment 
of  it  before  the  Paris  Academy  of  Medicine,  in  which 
he  pointed  out  that  several  of  Pasteur's  patients  had 
died  of  a  form  of  hydrophobia  almost  unknown  hitherto 
in  the  human  subject,  but  very  closely  resembling  the 
disease  produced  by  Pasteur  in  his  laboratory  rabbits. 


GERMS.  119 

In  short,  they  had  died  not  from  a  dog's  bite,  but  from 
the  virus  injected  into  their  bodies  by  M.  Pasteur's 
hypodermic  syringe!  In  support  of  this  terrible 
charge,  Professor  Peter  produced  a  mass  of  incontro- 
vertible evidence  which  Pasteur's  supporters  have  never 
attempted  seriously  to  question. 

"Professor  Colin,  of  the  French  veterinary  school  at 
Alfort,  criticised  the  Pasteurian  statistics,  pointing  out 
that  the  certificates  produced  by  the  patients  were  worth 
nothing,  having  been  drawn  up  by  incompetent  peo- 
ple, and  that  the  post  mortem  examinations  of  the 
dogs  were  equally  valueless,  as  they  afford  no  certain 
evidence  of  rabies.  He  considered  that  the  only  way 
of  arriving  at  a  conclusion  is  by  the  prolonged  observa- 
tion of  the  animal,  which  should  be  shut  up  and  kept 
till  the  characteristic  symptoms  of  rabies  declare  them- 
selves. 

"Professor  Billroth  declared  the  Pasteurian  system 
of  treatment  to  be  a  fiasco,  and  Professor  Van  Frisch, 
of  Vienna,  made  the  following  statement  in  his  exhaus- 
tive report  upon  Pasteur's  treatment:  'Babbits  and 
dogs  which,  without  preceding  infection,  were  subjected 
to  the  last  mentioned  strengthened  inoculation  for  hu- 
man beings,  were  infected  with  rabies  through  that 
inoculation.  Hence  it  may  be  inferred  with  great  prob- 
ability, that  this  method  of  inoculation  may  likewise  be 
seriously  dangerous  to  man.' 

"Dr.  Lutand,  of  Paris,  condemned  the  Pasteurian 
antirabic  treatment  as  not  only  ineffectual,  but  also 
dangerous,  and  cited  the  case  of  the  postman,  Eascol, 
in  proof  of  this  assertion.  On  the  28th  of  February, 


120  MICROBES   AND    HEALTH. 

1889,  Eascol  and  another  man  were  attacked  by  a  dog 
suspected  of  being  rabid.  In  RascoPs  case  the  dog's 
teeth  did  not  penetrate  the  skin,  but  the  other  man 
was  severely  bitten.  Neither  of  them  wished  to  go  to 
the  Pasteur  Institute,  but  Eascol  was  compelled  by  the 
French  postal  authorities  to  do  so.  He  remained  there 
under  treatment  from  the  9th  to  the  14th  of  March, 
and  on  the  26th  he  resumed  his  duties.  On  April  12th 
severe  symptoms  set  in,  with  pain  at  the  points  of 
inoculation,  not  at  the  bite,  for  he  had  not  been  bitten. 
On  the  14th  of  April  he  died  of  paralytic  hydrophobia, 
which  evidently  must  have  been  caused  by  the  Pasteur- 
ian  inoculations.  The  other  man  who  refused  to  sub- 
mit to  this  antirabic  treatment  remained  well,  though 
he  had  been  severely  bitten  by  the  suspected  dog.  This 
is  a  crucial  case,  and  comment  is  unnecessary. 

"Dr.  Charles  Bell  Taylor,  of  Nottingham,  in  his 
article  in  the  National  Review  of  July,  1890,  gives  the 
following  cases,  which  furnish  decisive  proof  that  hy- 
drophobia is  sometimes  brought  on  by  the  Pasteurian 
inoculations:  Leopold  Nee  was  bitten  at  Arras,  on 
November  9, 1886.  He  was  subjected  to  the  Pasteurian 
treatment  on  the  17th  and  following  days,  and  died  of 
hydrophobia  on  December  17th, 'a  month  later.  The 
dog  that  bit  him  was  perfectly  healthy. 

"In  July,  1887,  Arthur  Stoboi,  one  of  the  scholars  at 
the  Lyceum  at  Lublin,  in  Russia,  was  bitten  by  a  dog 
and  immediately  sent  to  the  Pasteur  Institute  at  War- 
saw, where  he  received  the  usual  treatment  by  inocula- 
tion, and  was  discharged  on  August  llth,  with  a  certifi- 
cate of  cure,  on  the  strength  of  which  he  was  read- 


GERMS.  121 

mitted  to  the  Lyceum  and  resumed  his  studies.  On 
November  9th,  however,  three  months  later,  he  felt 
pain  in  the  region  of  the  inoculations,  and  shortly 
afterwards  he  died  of  hydrophobia.  The  dog  that  lit 
him  remained  quite  well. 

"The  groom  of  Signer  Camello  Mina  was  bitten  by 
a  sheep  dog,  and  subsequently  died  of  hydrophobia, 
after  having  been  subjected  to  the  Pasteurian  treat- 
ment at  Milan  for  a  month.  The  dog  had  nothing  what- 
ever the  matter  with  it. 

"A  young  painter  at  Antwerp,  named  De  Moens, 
when  visiting  a  friend,  was  bitten  slightly  by  his 
friend's  dog.  He  was  urged  to  go  to  Pasteur  at  once, 
which  he  did,  and  was  subjected  to  the  Pasteurian 
antirabic  treatment  from  the  20th  of  March  to  the 
2nd  of  April,  1889.  After  his  return  he  was  suddenly 
attacked  by  hydrophobia,  and  died  on  May  17th,  1889. 
The  dog  that  lit  him  remained  perfectly  well. 

"It  is  quite  evident  that  these  persons  died  from 
hydrophobia,  communicated  to  them  by  the  Pasteurian 
antirabic  treatment,  and  I  challenge  Lord  Lister,  Mr. 
Stephen  Paget  and  the  other  advocates  of  Pasteurism 
to  explain  these  cases  otherwise  if  they  can." 

Roberts'  Lymph. 

France  and  Germany  will  not  be  allowed  to  carry  off 
the  laurels  without  a  struggle,  for  we  have  aspirants  in 
our  own  country,  who  are  bearing  in  their  arms  life- 
preservers  and  prolongators  of  all  kinds. 

At  present  there  is  being  manufactured  in  this  coun- 
try a  lymph  compound,  combined  with  "vitalized  ex- 


122  MICROBES   AND   HEALTH. 

tracts."  This  is  called  "Boberts'  Lymph  Compound/' 
and  the  manufacturers  state  that  "physicians  of  the 
highest  standing  and  attainments  agree  that  no  other 
scientist  has  even  attempted  the  problem,  which  this 
firm  has  positively  solved." 

The  same  pamphlet  states  that  "the  physicians  in 
charge  of  the  institute  where  the  lymph  is  used  were 
formerly  professors  in  leading  colleges." 

Since  those  in  charge  of  the  institute  were  former 
professors,  perhaps  they  themselves  are  the  ones  re- 
ferred to  as  "physicians  of  the  highest  standing  and 
attainments"  that  claim  so  much  for  the  lymph  com- 
pound, and  especially  since  it  is  customary  for  the 
manufacturers  of  secret  mostrums  to  sound  their  own 
praises. 

The  manufacturers  tell  us  the  lymph  is  taken  from 
young  animals.  They  say,  "The  nutritional  changes 
are  studied  in  the  bones  of  old  dogs  or  cattle."  The 
doctors  give  tabulated  results  of  experiments  on  "com- 
mon cur  dogs."  How  interesting  that  must  be  to  a 
sick  man  or  woman.  They  say  the  dog's  bones  will 
be  photographed.  And  it  is  suggested  that  patients 
wishing  to  study  the  bones  of  "common  cur  dogs"  send 
in  their  orders  early  and  avoid  the  rush.  The  manu- 
facturers claim  the  lymph  will  cure  nearly  all  the  dis- 
eases that  affect  the  human  race,  and  add  that  be- 
sides the  lymph  and  animal  extracts,  which  are  in- 
jected under  the  skin,  patients  are  given  a  supportive 
nutritive  remedy,  by  the  mouth,  and  are  required  to 
follow  the  rules  of  diet,  hygiene,  etc. 

Exactly.     Happy  thought!     For  the  author  believes 


GEKMS. 

that  whatever  benefit  may  be  derived  from  this 
method  comes  through  the  common-sense  treatment  of 
diet  and  hygiene. 

The  manufacturers  name  the  goat  as  one  of  the 
animals  from  which  their  precious  lymph  is  obtained, 
and  say  that  the  goat  is  selected  because  it  is  the 
"toughest"  of  all  animals.  We  would  suppose  that 
first  place  would  be  given  to  that  quadraped  of  the- 
horse  genus — 

That  greets  you  with  a  smile, 
Then  gently  telegraphs  one  leg 
And  kicks  you  half  a  mile. 

The  animal  that  so  kindly  feels 
While  you're  working  round  his  head; 
But  when  you're  working  round  his  heels 
You're  liable  to  drop  dead. 

That  animal  with  so  little  mane 

That  broke   his   rider's   back; 

Then  he  stopped  a  Michigan  Central  train, 

And  kicked  it  off  the  track. 

That  animal  whose  voice  has  never  been  sand- 
papered, or  smoothed  down  on  an  emery  wheel,  and 
whose  long  anterior  appendages  move  back  and  forth 
keeping  perfect  time  to  the  hee-haw,  hee-haw,  hee-haw 
— haw — a — a 

It  would  seem  that  this  animal  would  be  more  con- 
genial to  all  who  manufacture  antitoxin,  lymph  com- 
pound or  animal  extracts.  More  congenial  because 
naturally  more  companionable. 

The  manufacturer  says:  "A  large  number  of  insti- 
tutes will  be  opened  all  over  the  country,"  and  that 


124  MICKOBES   AND   HEALTH. 

"these  institutes  are  not  advertised,  or  otherwise  un- 
prof essionally  conducted."  Again,  he  says :  "I  do  not 
wish  to  extensively  infringe  upon  or  anticipate  the 
publication  of  Dr.  Roberts,"  yet  "physicians  of  the 
highest  standing  and  attainments  agree  that  no  other 
scientist  has  even  attempted  the  problem  which  Dr. 
Roberts  has  positively  solved." 

Can  patent  medicine  manufacturers  advertise  in 
bolder  language?  From  time  immemorial  the  savages 
have  eaten  the  hearts  of  their  enemies  to  give  them 
courage.  It  is  said  our  ancestors  were  in  the  habit  of 
drinking  soup  made  from  calves'  lungs  to  fortify  their 
own  lungs.  Then  a  few  doctors  with  high-sounding 
names  told  us  to  take  preserves  made  from  the  brains 
and  kidneys,  to  take  extracts  made  from  the  thyroid 
and  other  glands  of  the  lower  animals.  That  was  the 
age  of  animal  extracts  and  comes  down  to  a  very  recent 
date.  In  fact,  a  few  of  these  dishes  in  the  form  of 
antitoxins,  lymph  compound  and  elixir  of  life  are  still 
on  the  market,  just  to  remind  us  of  the  barbaric  past. 
We  understand  that  the  lymph  compound  is  manufac- 
tured in  secret  and  that  the  doctor  who  is  allowed  to 
use  it  must  buy  his  territory  the  same  as  a  man  who 
buys  territory  for  a  patent  right,  and  having  bought 
the  territory,  he  must  next  buy  the  lymph  at  a  cost  of 
thirty-six  dollars  for  one  and  three-fourths  ounces. 

We  laugh  at  the  superstition  of  the  middle  ages, 
when  the  alchemist  tried  to  transmute  or  change  the 
baser  metals  into  gold  and  to  discover  the  elixir  of 
life,  but  the  manufacturers  of  serum  therapy  have 


GERMS.  125 

imbibed  the  same  spirit,  and  now  seek  the  elixir  of  life 
in  the  stale  and  filthy  serums  of  the  lower  animals. 
Yet  such  delirium  will  not  satisfy  the  searcher  after 
the  eternal  truths  which  underlie  all  nature,  for  he 
will  take  his  stand  upon  justice,  reason  and  common- 
sense.  He  will  always  regard  with  abhorrence  and  dis- 
gust any  so  called  discovery  of  science  emanating  under 
the  cover  of  secrecy,  as  in  the  case  with  antitoxins, 
animal  extracts,  lymph  compound,  etc. 

Taking  filthy  extracts  from  certain  glands  of  the 
lower  animals  and  injecting  them  into  a  human  being 
is  revolting,  and  the  practice  is  disgusting. 

Dr.  Roberts  is  not  alone  in  performing  miracles.  In 
Buffalo,  N.  Y.,  there  is  a  man  who  cures  people  after 
they  have  had  "eighty-one  hemorrhages  from  the  lungs, 
sometimes  spitting  five  pints  of  blood  at  one  time." 
Five  times  eighty-one  is  four  hundred  and  five  pints, 
equal  to  about  four  hundred  and  five  pounds.  The 
weight  of  the  body  is  thirteen  times  the  weight  of  the 
blood  it  contains.  Thirteen  times  four  hundred  and 
five  is  five  thousand  two  hundred  and  sixty-five  pounds. 
People  who  live  in  Buffalo  must  grow  very  large. 
Some  stories  are  too  thin,  but  this  one  is  too  thick. 

If  Dr.  Pierce,  the  advertiser,  can  cure  a  man  who 
has  had  eighty-one  hemorrhages  of  five  pints  each,  per- 
haps he  can  cure  a  man  who  has  had  eighty-two  hemor- 
rhages of  six  pints  each.  In  fact,  it  is  not  unreason- 
able to  suppose  that  all  manufacturers  of  secret  nos- 
trums, whether  patent  medicines,  antitoxins,  lymph 
compound  or  animal  extracts,  are  playing  a  game  with- 


126  MICROBES    AND    HEALTH. 

out  limit.  No  names  have  been  purposely  selected  or 
mentioned.  The  object  is  to  show  the  tendency  of  the 
quack. 

Is  serum  therapy  a  fraud  or  not?  In  this  world  we 
believe  that  perfect  humanity  is  the  highest  ambition 
of  the  creative  power.  That  statement  is  rendered 
indisputable  from  the  perfect  life  sent  to  guide  our 
erring  footsteps.  Has  the  Divine  Intelligence  placed 
in  the  hands  of  a  few  scheming  operators  the  means  of 
reaching  that  higher  plane? 

Modern  improvements  in  hygiene  may  increase  the 
average  duration  of  life,  but  it  will  not  extend  the 
maximum,  neither  will  elixirs,  serums,  antitoxins  or 
animal  products  prevent  the  natural  decay  that  comes 
with  declining  years.  These  simple  truths  will  remain 
and  grow  brighter  after  the  collapsed  germ  theories, 
and  the  departed  serums  have  passed  out  of  human 
memory. 

Are  germs  the  cause  or  the  result  of  disease?  the 
result. 

All  tissue  destroyed  by  disease  must  be  reduced- 
converted  into  pus,  gasses,  etc.,  before  it  can  be 
eleminated. 

Bacteriologists  admit  this  can  only  result  from  germ 
action. 

In  germ  life  the  same  system  of  repair  and  waste 
takes  place  as  in  all  other  forms  of  living  matter,  the 
waste  produced  by  the  germs  is  called  ptomains  and 
bacteriologists  claim  these  act  as  a  poison. 

Some  authorities  claim  it  does  not,  yet  admitting  the 
ptomains  are  poison,  all  bacteriology  can  claim  is  that 


GERMS.  12 

they  are  more  dangerous  than  the  dead  tissues  which 
they  reduce.  Is  this  true?  No,  for  if  nature  has 
designed  germs  the  medium  by  which  dead  tissues  shall 
be  removed,  and  at  the  same  time  rendered  the  germs 
more  dangerous  than  the  dead  tissue,  then  nature  has 
made  a  fatal  mistake. 

All  admit  nature  makes  no  mistakes. 

If  germs  are  not  the  cause  of  disease,  what  is? 
What  is  the  cause  of  epidemics,  contagion,  etc.? 
How  does  disease  spread?  Undoubtedly  some  epidem- 
ics are  caused  by  atmospheric  changes.  It  cannot  be 
otherwise,  because  its  appearance  is  so  sudden  and  wide- 
spread. It  occurs  almost  simultaneously  in  different 
parts  of  the  country.  It  has  been  observed  on  land 
and  ship  at  the  same  time.  This  applies  especially  to 
influenza  or  grip,  "hay  fever,"  etc.,  yet  there  are  dis- 
eases that  cannot  be  accounted  for  in  this  way.  Ke- 
garding  these,  one  of  the  world's  greatest  physiologists, 
the  late  W.  B.  Carpenter,  is  quoted  as  saying:  "What 
is  it  that  determines  the  infective  nature  of  disease 
germs  ?"  This  something  appears  to  be  supplied  by 
overcrowding  the  patients  thus  affected.  Overcrowd- 
ing means  deficient  air-supply,  and  deficient  air-supply 
means  deficient  oxygenation  of  the  blood,  producing 
an  accumulation  in  the  circulating  current  of  those 
waste  products  which  are  normally  eliminated  as  fast 
as  they  are  produced.  Just  thirty  years  ago  I  showed 
that  all  the  known  predisposing  causes  of  epidemic 
diseases  might  be  generalized  under  one  expression, 
viz.,  the  accumulation  of  decomposing  nitrogenous  mat- 
ter in  the  blood,  either  from  without  as  foul  air,  impure 


128  MICKOBES   AND    HEALTH. 

water,  or  putrescent  (decayed)  food,  or  through  its 
excessive  generation  within  the  body — as  by  unusual 
waste  tissue,  or  by  an  obstructed  elimination  of  normal 
waste — such  as  results  of  bad  ventilation,  or  the  mis- 
use of  alcoholic  liquors.  And  I  showed  that  zymotic 
poisons  (poisons  resulting  from  diseased  fermentation), 
which  have  no  action  on  pure  blood,  will  increase  by 
seizing  upon  this  appropriate  pabulum  (accumulated 
waste  in  the  system),  multiply  in  it,  thus  setting  up 
a  zymosis  (diseased  fermentation)  in  pure  blood,  just 
the  same  as  the  growth  and  multiplication  of  yeast- 
cells  take  place  at  the  expense  of  the  nitrogenous  mat- 
ter in  wort,  and  affects  the  transformation  of  sugar 
into  alcohol."  (Wort  is  unfermented  infusion  of  malt. 
When  fermented  the  sugar  is  converted  into  alcohol 
and  it  becomes  beer.) 

Prof.  Carpenter  says  in  substance  that  pure  blood 
or  a  healthy  system  is  not  affected  by  the  poisons  re- 
sulting from  diseased  fermentation,  but  such  poisons 
will  develop  upon  waste  .matter  if  such  waste  accumu- 
lates in  the  system,  just  the  same  as  yeast-cells  will 
develop  in  the  unfermented  infusion  of  malt.  On  page 
20  it  is  stated  that  the  tissue  change,  repair  and 
waste,  which  takes  place  in  the  body,  is  a  process  of 
fermentation.  When  the  body  is  diseased  the  products 
of  such  fermentation  act  as  a  specific  poison  or  virus, 
and  by  means  of  such  specific  virus  disease  may  be 
communicated  from  one  to  another. 

What  is  specific  poison  or  virus  ?  It  is  a  product  of 
dead  tissue  and  may  result  from  the  destruction  of 
tissue  during  disease,  or  may  be  found  in  dead  bodies. 


GERMS.  129 

That  is  why  it  is  so  dangerous  for  the  student  or 
operator  to  cut  his  finger  while  dissecting  a  dead  body, 
and  also  why  it  is  so  dangerous  for  a  barber  to  cut  him- 
self while  shaving  a  corpse. 

Virus  contains  no  living  organisms,  and  produces  no 
effect  in  a  healthy  system,  because  the  healthy  system 
contains  no  waste  upon  which  the  virus  can  act.  That 
explains  why  some  escape  disease  while  others  are  af- 
fected. 

Specific  virus;  i.  e.,  contagious  matter,  if  brought  in 
contact  with  living  tissue,  as  the  stomach  or  any  part 
of  the  body,  seeks  to  enter  into  combination  with  it  and 
effect  decomposition.  This  tendency  is  opposed  by  the 
vitality  of  the  part,  and  the  result  will  depend  upon 
their  respective  strengths.  In  a  healthy  system  the 
contagious  matter  is  overcome  and  digested  or  de- 
stroyed, and  there  is  no  disease.  When,  however,  the 
body  contains  an 'abundance  of  waste  matter,  the  con- 
tagium  acting  as  a  ferment  sets  up  fermentation  in 
this  waste  and  disease  results.  The  disease  is  mild  or 
severe  in  proportion  to  the  amount  of  waste  in  the 
system,  plus  the  amount  furnished  during  the  disease. 
The  contagium  or  specific  virus  acts  as  a  ferment  just 
as  the  yeast-cells  act  as  a  ferment. 

As  already  stated,  there  are  many  kinds  of  fermenta- 
tion; as  the  alcoholic,  the  conversion  of  sugar  into 
alcohol  and  carbonic  acid;  acetic,  the  convertion  of 
alcoholic  solution  into  vinegar;  lactic,  the  production 
of  lactic  acid  in  milk;  putrefactive,  the  decomposition 
of  dead  matter,  etc.,  etc. 

All  understand  that  each  of  these  different  kinds 


130  MICROBES    AND    HEALTH. 

of  fermentation  are  caused  by  a  different  ferment,  and 
is  the  result  of  a  natural  law.  So,  also,  each  of  the 
different  infectious  diseases  is  caused  by  a  different 
ferment  in  the  form  of  a  different  poison,  and  is  the 
results  of  a  natural  law. 

Is  there  any  evidence  that  a  specific  poison  and  not 
a  germ  causes  disease?  Yes,  and  in  obtaining  such 
evidence  the  hog  was  chosen  as  a  proper  animal  upon 
which  to  experiment,  the  operators  claiming  that  the 
hog  is  nearest  to  man,  and  surely  there  are  some  who 
will  not  question  this  part  of  the  statement. 

"Take  a  hog  or  a  number  of  them,  and  inject  them 
with  the  so  called  cholera  germ,  there  will  be  no  re- 
sults. They  will  never  miss  a  feed.  Now  take  some 
virus  from  a  cholera-stricken  hog,  kill  all  organisms 
with  carbolic  acid.  Now  inject  the  virus  into  an- 
other hog,  and  it  will  contract  the  true  disease,  hog 
cholera.  Now  make  a  culture  from  one  of  the  diseased 
hogs,  and  the  germ  will  be  found  in  it,  showing  that 
while  the  germs  cannot  produce  disease  they  inhabit 
.the  body  after  disease  is  established." 

The  same  is  true  in  man.  According  to  the  bacteri- 
ologists the  hogs  injected  with  the  germ  should  have 
developed  the  disease,  and  those  inoculated  with  the 
virus  should  have  developed  blood-poison.  This  ex- 
planation clears  up  the  cause  of  all  infectious  disease, 
while  the  germ  theory  only  adds  to  the  mystery,  be- 
cause the  bacteriologists  can  find  no  germ  to  produce 
disease  in  man. 

The  question  might  be  asked,  what  is  the  difference 
whether  a  germ  or  a  specific  virus  causes  disease? 
The  specific  virus  causes  fermentation,  is  just  as  sure 


GERMS.  131 

to  spread,  and  is  just  as  dangerous  in  its  effects  as 
the  charges  that  have  been  made  against  germs. 
The  difference  is,  the  specific  virus  can  only  emanate 
from  a  person  having  the  disease,  while  germs  are 
present  in  countless  numbers  at  all  times  and  places. 
If  exposed  to  pure  air  and  sunshine,  as  in  proper 
ventilation,  specific  virus  will  lose  its  power  to  pro- 
duce disease.  This  is  self-evident,  otherwise  the  virus 
from  the  first  case,  beginning  with  the  creation  of 
man,  would  have  remained  with  ever  increasing  force, 
gathering  a  fresh  supply  from  each  succeeding  patient, 
and  if  there  was  a  man  left  to  write  a  history  of  the 
world  he  could  only  chronicle  epidemics,  disease  and 
death.  There  would  be  no  time  for  wars  or  politics, 
but  plagues,  pestilence  and  famine  would  fill  every 
page,  for  every  man,  woman  and  child  would  be  ex- 
posed again  and  again  to  each  infection,  while  to-day 
comparatively  few  have  disease.  Even  Pasteur,  of  hy- 
drophobia fame,  is  quoted  as  saying:  "That  the  excit- 
ing cause  of  disease  can  be  weakened  and  destroyed  out- 
side the  body  by  a  natural  agency,  pure  air." 

While  pure  air  and  sunshine  will  destroy  specific 
virus,  it  will  not  destroy  germs.  Bacteriologists  claim 
that  germs  are  "attenuated,"  "destroyed,"  etc.,  by  fresh 
air  and  sunshine.  Bacteriologists  do  not  know  whether 
they  are  or  not.  Certain  conditions  may  render  germs 
inactive,  and  later  they  may  be  as  frisky  as  ever.  This 
is  proven  by  the  extremes  of  heat  and  cold  which  germs 
can  bear  without  being  destroyed.  Germs  that  have 
been  subjected  to  a  heat  of  302  degrees  F.  and  a  cold  of 
248  degrees  F.,  have  afterwards  been  found  to  grow  vig- 
orously in  favorable  surroundings.  This  is  ninety  de- 


132  MICROBES   AND   HEALTH. 

grees  above  boiling  water  and  two  hundred  and  sixteen 
degrees  colder  than  ice.  Even  if  it  were  true  that  fresh 
air  and  sunshine  destroy  germs,  the  results  are  the  same, 
for  germs  are  as  numerous  to-day  as  one  thousand  or  one 
million  years  ago,  and  they  will  be  as  numerous  one 
million  years  hence  as  they  are  to-day.  The  bacteri- 
ologist who  tries  to  destroy  germs  would  be  equally  as 
successful  if  he  would  try  to  destroy  matter. 

Yet,  we  admire  the  determination  with  which  the 
bacteriologist  clings  to  theory.  It  reminds  us  of  the 
words — 

If  you  strike  a  thorn  or  rose, 
If  it  hails  or  if  it  snows, 
Keep  a-goin'. 

'Tain't  no  use  to  sit  and  whine 
Cause  the  fish  ain't  on  your  line, 
Or  if  the  weather  kills  your  crop 
And  you  tumble  from  the  top, 
Keep  a-goin'. 

Spose  you're  out  of  every  dime, 
Tell  the  world  you're  feelin'  fine, 
If  you  get  broke  it  ain't  no  crime, 
Just  keep  a-goin'. 

It  also  reminds  us  of  the  story  of  an  aged  minister, 
who  believed  every  word  of  the  Bible,  and  everything 
else  that  appeared  in  print.  Especially  did  he  tie  to 
"Gospel  Songs  No.  2."  The  choir  wished  to  change 
and  get  something  more  up-to-date,  but  the  aged  min- 
ister would  not  have  it.  One  day  some  young  rascal 
pasted  into  the  copy  of  hymns  devoted  to  the  pulpit  a 
printed  slip  of  another  kind  of  music.  The  pasting 
was  so  deftly  done  that  no  eye  could  detect  it.  The 


GERMS.  133 

following  Sunday  the  good  man  opened  by  chance  to 
read  the  first  hymn — he  always  opened  by  chance — he 
opened  to  the  pasted  page  and  began  to  read,  in  a  deep 
voice : 

"Fm  a  double-jointed  huckleberry  aching  for  a  fight." 

So  determined  was  the  good  man  to  cling  to  Gospel 
Songs  No.  2  that  he  read  the  first  line  through  without 
stopping.  He  shut  the  book  on  his  finger,  looked  at 
the  cover  and  saw  the  words,  "Gospel  Songs  No.  2." 
That  settled  it  and  he  read  the  second  line : 

"I  can  eat  a  pound  of  liver,  beef  or  pork," 

The  aged  man  closed  the  book  again,  scrutinized  the 
cover — 'twas  all  right;  it  bore  the  words  "Gospel  Songs 
No.  2" — but  there  were  smiles  in  the  audience  and 
other  evidence  of  unbelief,  showing  a  lack  of  confidence. 
However,  the  good  man  remained  undaunted,  and  so 
determined  was  he  to  cling  to  Gospel  Songs  No.  2  that 
he  re-adjusted  his  glasses  and  read  more  firmly  than 
before : 

"I  can  whip  a  pair  of  catamounts  and  eat  'em,  when  I'm 
tight," 

"Brethren,"  said  the  good  man  with  a  puzzled  look, 
"I  don't  remember  seeing  those  words  in  this  book  be- 
fore, and  holding  the  book  up  to  view  he  exclaimed, 
"but  this  is  Gospel  Songs  No.  2,"  and  his  voice  grew 
louder  and  firmer  as  he  said  :>  "I  will  read  the  remain- 
ing line  of  the  first  stanza:" 

"I'm  a  terror  from  the  country,  watch  my  smoke." 


CONSUMPTION. 

There  are  more  deaths  from  consumption  than  from 
any  other  disease.  It  is  estimated  that  in  the  United 
States  alone  more  than  one  hundred  thousand  die  an- 
nually from  consumption.  Why  so  many  deaths  from 
this  disease? 

The  ordinary  case  of  consumption  is  no  more  nor  less 
than  a  slow  process  of  pneumonia  or  inflammation  of 
the  lungs. 

The  lungs  may  be  represented  by  a  tree  hanging  with 
its  top  down.  The  body  and  limbs  of  the  tree  would 
represent  the  large  and  small  air  tubes.  The  body 
would  represent  the  trachea  or  "windpipe/*  and  the  in- 
numerable branches,  their  divisions  and  subdivisions 
would  represent  the  smaller  tubes,  and  three  or  more 
dilatations  like  a  small  hollow  bead  on  the  end  of  each 
twig  would  represent  the  air-cells.  The  air  tubes  open 
into  the  air  cells,  and  both  tubes  and  cells  are  lined 
with  mucous  membrane  which  is  continuous  from  the 
mouth  and  throat.  All  are  held  together  by  a  connec- 
tive tissue  frame  work.  This  frame  work  is  elastic, 
hence  the  power  of  the  lungs  to  expand  and  contract. 
The  heart  and  lungs  are  the  only  organs  through  which 
all  the  blood  passes.  In  the  heart  it  simply  passes 
from  one  cavity  to  another,  but  in  the  lungs  it  must 
pass  through  the  intricate  network  of  thin- walled  ves- 
sels called  capillaries. 


CONSUMPTION.  135 

The  heart  is  a  hollow  muscular  organ;  a  longitudinal 
septum  or  partition  divides  it  into  two  lateral  halves, 
which  from  their  position  are  called  right  and  left 
heart.  A  transverse  septum;  i.  e.,  one  extending  from 
side  to  side,  again  divides  the  heart  into  four  cavities, 
two  upper  and  two  lower.  The  right  heart  controls 
the  circulation  through  the  lungs  only,  the  left  heart 
control  the  general  or  systematic  circulation.  The  dark 
venous  blood  from  the  whole  system  is  received  into  the 
right  heart,  and  sent  through  the  lungs  where  it  re- 
ceives oxygen  from  the  air  we  breathe,  and^  is  returned 
to  the  left  heart;  this  contracts  and  sends  the  bright 
arterial  blood  throughout  the  system.  The  right  and 
left  heart  are  really  two  organs  molded  into  one,  na- 
ture's method  of  economizing  space  and  power.  The 
heart  cavities  are  lined  with  a  delicate  membrane  which 
is  continuous  with  that  lining  the  arteries,  picked  up 
folds  of  this  membrane  form  the  valves  which  guard 
the  openings  between  the  cavities. 

The  channels  through  which  poisons  are  eliminated 
are  the  digestive  tract,  kidneys,  lungs  and  skin.  When 
food  does  not  digest  it  ferments,  and  as  a  result  there 
are  many  poisons  produced.  The  veins  of  the  stomach 
and  those  of  the  digestive  tract  unite  to  form  the 
portal  vein,  and  the  portal  vein  enters  the  liver,  hence 
many  of  tne  poisonous  substances  resulting  from  indi- 
gestion are  carried  direct  to  this  organ. 

The  liver  tries  to  reduce  the  poison,  but  fails;  its 
effects  together  with  the  irritation  from  the  impure 
blood  overcomes  more  or  less  its  vitality,  and  its  action 
is  interfered  with,  constipation  follows,  and  the  poi- 


136  MICROBES    AND   HEALTH. 

sons  in  the  system  are  increased.  The  waste  interferes 
with  the  circulation  in  the  small  peripheral  vessels, 
elimination  by  the  skin  is  clogged,  the  kidneys  do  what 
they  can,  but  are  hopelessly  behind  all  the  time.  There 
is  one  other  avenue  by  which  the  system  may  purify 
the  blood;  the  lungs. 

The  lungs  are  supplied  with  two  sets  of  vessels, 
which,  from  their  minute  size  are  called  capillaries. 
The  arteries  divide  and  redivide  until  they  penetrate 
all  parts  of  the  lung  substance.  One  set  of  capillaries 
supplies  nourishment,  the  other  set  envelopes  the  air 
cells  for  the  purpose  of  absorbing  oxygen  from  the  air 
we  breathe.  This  set  of  capillaries  lay  just  beneath 
the  delicate  mucous  membrane  which  lines  the  cells. 

Animal  membrane  has  the  power  of  admitting  gases 
(oxygen)  and  yet  remain  impervious  to  fluid  (blood). 
It  is  estimated  that  here  are  six  hundred  million  air 
cells  in  the  lungs,  and  that  their  combined  surface  is 
more  than  seven  times  greater  than  the  whole  outer 
surface  of  the  body.  This  surface  is  literally  covered 
with  small  vessels  (capillaries)  through  which  the  blood 
is  continually  pouring.  Nearly  all  the  blood  in  the 
~body  passes  through  the  heart  and  lungs  once  every 
minute.  One-twelfth  of  the  weight  of  the  body  is  the 
weight  of  the  blood.  This  is  equivalent  to  nearly  two 
thousand  pounds  of  blood  which  must  pass  through 
the  lungs  every  twenty-four  hours. 

The  system  of  vessels  which  supply  the  lungs  with 
nourishment,  and  the  system  through  which  the  blood 
is  oxydized  are  entirely  separate.  The  system  which 
nourishes  the  lungs  is  given  off  from  the  left  heart, 


CONSUMPTION".  137 

while  those  that  carry  the  blood  for  oxidation  come 
from  the  right  heart.  The  blood  which  is  sent  to  nour- 
ish the  lungs  is  bright  red;  that  sent  for  oxidation  is 
dark  venous,  and  contains  many  impurities. 

Uric  Acid. 

Uric  acid  is  the  product  of  metabolism  or  tissue 
change.  Its  chief  source  of  supply  is  the  liver.  In 
health  this  uric  acid  is  oxidized;  i.  e.,  unites  with  the 
oxygen  from  the  air  we  breathe,  is  converted  into  urea, 
and  the  urea  is  eliminated  by  the  kidneys.  As  stated, 
the  return  circulation  carries  many  poisons  from  the 
digestive  tract  to  the  liver,  heart  and  the  lungs.  Uric 
acid  is  also  sent  from  the  liver  direct  to  the  lungs. 
Every  poison  in  the  system  is  carried  by  the  return  cir- 
culation to  the  heart  and  sent  direct  into  the  lungs, 
and  inflammation  is  a  frequent  result. 

The  amount  of  oxygen  inhaled  grows  gradually  less, 
and  the  oxidation  in  the  blood  of  certain  unfinished 
products  is  rendered  less  complete.  The  uric  acid  is 
not  converted  into  urea,  but  remains  an  irritating  sub- 
stance. 

Lactic  Acid. 

Lactic  acid  exists  in  most  parts  of  the  body  and  is 
supposed  to  be  derived  from  muscle  tissue.  The  excess 
of  this  or  uric  acid  is  thought  to  be  the  cause  of  rheu- 
matism. In  health  lactic  acid  is  also  oxidized  and 
converted  into  carbonic  acid  gas  and  water,  and  elimi- 
nated by  the  kidneys  and  lungs.  But  with  the  dimin- 
ished amount  of  oxygen  taken  into  the  system,  this 


138  MICROBES   AND    HEALTH. 

change  does  not  take  place,  and  it,  too,  remains  an 
irritating  substance.  These  and  many  poisons  from 
the  digestive  tract  are  being  continually  poured  into 
the  lungs,  and  thus  the  irritation  and  inflammation 
are  increased. 

The  return  circulation  already  mentioned  carries  the 
septic  blood  to  the  right  side  of  the  heart  and  from 
there  every  heart-beat  sends  it  into  the  lungs  where 
it  tries  to  pass  through  the. capillary  net  work  of  small 
vessels.  The  result  is  engorgment  or  congestion,  and 
a  low  form  of  inflammation  as  stated.  Now  some 
trivial  occurrences  as  wet  feet  or  exposure  may  result 
in  a  bronchial  catarrh,  which  ordinarily  is  easily  re- 
covered from,  but  with  the  lungs  previously  inflamed 
and  their  vitality  at  such  a  low  ebb,  the  case  becomes 
more  chronic. 

Consumption  is  not  "ketching"  as  claimed  by  some, 
but  depends  upon  a  train  of  conditions  as  briefly  de- 
scribed. Months  and  years  are  required  to  develop  the 
disease.  The  low  form  of  inflammation  means  too 
much  blood,  and  too  much  blood  means  an  increased 
growth  of  the  part.  All  parts  of  the  body  are  pre- 
vaded  by  what  is  called  connective  tissue.  This  acts 
as  a  frame  work  and  supports  the  different  organs  and 
the  different  parts  of  each  organ,  and  all  the  tissues  of 
the  body.  It  is  strong  and  fibrous,  and  in  the  form  of 
tendon  it  joins  muscle  to  bone.  It  also  forms  liga- 
ments, uniting  the  ends  of  bones  and  forming  joints, 
it  forms  cartilage  which  covers  the  ends  of  bone,  and 
thus  prevents  friction  in  joints.  It  is  attached  to  the 
different  organs  holding  them  in  position.  It  per- 


CONSUMPTION.  139 

meates  all  parts  of  the  organs,,  and  thus  supports  the 
different  glands  and  specialized  cells.  It  unites  the 
skin  to  the  deeper  structures,  in  the  form  of  loose 
meshes  it  forms  a  bed  for  the  transmission  of  vessels 
and  nerves,  slightly  modified  it  forms  the  frame  work 
of  the  brain  and  spinal  cord,  it  unites  the  spinal  column 
— it  forms  thick  layers  between  the  vertebra.  It  forms 
cartilage,  it  is  bright  and  glistening  and  forms  the 
white  of  the  eye,  after  forming  framework  for  all  the 
soft  tissues  it  is  itself  supported  by  its  attachment  to 
bone. 

It  has  been  stated  that  inflammation  produces  an 
over-growth  of  this  tissue.  In  the  low  form  of  inflam- 
mation resulting  from  septic  blood,  the  over-growth  al- 
ways takes  place  in  the  connective  tissue  just  men- 
tioned. As  naturally  supplied  this  tissue  develops  with 
the  growth  of  the  body,  but  when  resulting  from  inflam- 
mation it  invaribly  contracts,  and  this  fact  renders  it 
pathological  or  diseased.  The  inflammation  and  con- 
gestion means  too  much  blood,  and  as  a  result  of  this 
overfeeding  some  of  the  connective  tissue  cells  enlarge, 
and  as  the  growth  continues  they  divide  and  subdivide. 
Beginning  in  the  form  of  small  round  cells,  next  they 
elongate  and  are  called  spindle  cells,  then  fibre  cells, 
and  when  the  limit  of  their  growth  is  reached  they 
contract  and  become  hard  and  fibrous.  This  new  tis- 
sue takes  no  part  in  the  work  carried  on  by  the  organ 
in  which  it  occurs,  but  crowds  out  more  or  less  the 
natural,  and  the  organ  is  weakened  in  proportion.  As 
the  new  tissue  continues  to  contract  healthy  tissue  is 
caught  in  its  meshes  and  destroyed.  Its  unyielding 


140  MICROBES   AND   HEALTH. 

fibers  untangles  all  structures.  Blood  vessels  are 
caught  in  the  contracting  fibers  and  the  circulation  is 
lessened  or  cut  off,  and  the  parts  supplied  by  such  a 
vessel  atrophies,  degeneration  follows. 

Every  scar  is  an  example  of  this  kind  of  tissue.  The 
scar  looks  light  or  dark  in  proportion  to  the  number 
of  blood  vessels  destroyed.  A  wound  that  is  allowed 
to  gap  is  filled  in  with  this  new  connective  tissue.  A 
burn  gives  the  best  illustration  of  the  contraction  of 
connective  tissue  resulting  from  inflammation.  As  a 
result  of  burns  many  people  have  seen  the  hands  or 
face  drawn  out  of  all  resemblance  to  a  human  being. 
When  affecting  the  liver,  the  organ  is  much  shrunken 
•and  shriveled.  It  is  called  rum  drinker's  liver,  and  is 
caused  by  the  prolonged  use  of  alcohol.  Alcohol  also 
produces  the  same  changes  in  the  kidneys  in  some  forms 
of  Bright's  disease. 

These  changes  take  place  more  often  in  the  lungs  for 
the  reasons  given.  The  enormous  amount  of  blood 
which  is  being  constantly  poured  into  these  organs,  if 
unhealthy,  will  paralyze  the  delicate  nerve  fibers  which 
control  the  size  of  the  small  vessels;  the  vessels  dilate 
and  too  much  blood  is  the  result.  In  health  the  blood 
passes  through  the  walls  of  the  vessels  sufficient  to 
nourish  the  surrounding  tissues,  but  now  the  amount 
is  greatly  increased,  and  the  tissues  are  overfed,  hence 
the  overgrowth,  as  described.  In  the  lungs  the  pres- 
sure from  the  smaller  vessels  and  the  new  growth 
strangulates  the  circulation  as  elsewhere;  while  the 
•contraction  of  the  new  growth  obliterates  many  vessels. 


CONSUMPTION.  141 

air  cells  and  nerve  fibers.  Oxydation  is  lessened,  nutri- 
tion is  interferred  with,  and  vitality  is  brought  to  a 
low  ebb.  Page  136  states  that  the  lungs  were  the 
other  avenue  by  which  nature  may  purify  the  blood; 
but  elimination  by  this  route  is  lessened,  and  inflamma- 
tion increased  in  proportion  to  the  changes  described. 

The  amount  of  connective  tissue  overgrowth  is  al- 
ways in  proportion  to  the  amount  of  inflammation  and 
septic  blood.  Contraction  may  continue  until  the 
lungs  are  only  one-half  or  one-third  their  natural  size. 
If  inflammation  and  swelling  are  severe  enough  the 
tissue  will  be  destroyed  so  rapidly  that  one  or  more 
abscesses  may  form,  or  gangrene  may  result. 

The  description  of  the  natural  lungs  as  given,  the 
septic  blood  with  the  formation  of  irritants  producing 
a  low  form  of  inflammation  as  described,  and  the- 
changes  produced  by  such  inflammation  actually  oc- 
cur and  constitute  what  is  called  "the  regular  old- 
fashioned  consumption."  The  result  is  perfectly  na- 
tural, it  could  not  be  otherwse.  Every  doctor  of  exper- 
ience and  every  pathologist  knows  this  to  be  true. 
These  changes  take  place  very  slowly,  that  is  why  con- 
sumption is  such  a  slow,  lingering  disease ;  that  is  why  a 
man  with  consumption  may  live  five,  ten  or  twenty 
years  and  sometimes  die  from  other  causes.  And  as 
already  stated  this  is  no  more  or  less  than  a  slow  form 
of  pneumonia  or  chronic  inflammation  of  the  lungs. 
The  danger  is  increased  by  the  irritation  produced  by 
dust  as  met  with  in  mills,  factories,  stone  quarries,  iron 
works,  etc.  To  prove  this  we  have  only  to  remember 


142  MICROBES   AND   HEALTH. 

that  those  engaged  in  such  work  are  more  liable  to  con- 
sumption, and  contract  the  disease  much  more  fre- 
quently than  those  engaged  in  out  door  life. 

Tuberculosis. 

There  is  another  form  of  consumption  called  tuber- 
culosis. In  this  form  of  disease  the  septic  blood  pro- 
duces or  results  in  the  formation  of  a  poorly  organized 
tissue  in  the  form  of  little  nodules  or  tubercles,  hence 
the  name  tuberculosis. 

The  tubercles  are  small  nodular  masses  about  the 
size  of  a  millett  seed  (variable).  Tubercles  are  formed 
as  follows :  First,  an  irritant,  this  excites  inflammation 
and  new  growth.  These  new  cells  are  sometimes  called 
embryonic  tissue,  or  granulation  tissue,  from  their 
granular  appearance.  It  is  a  form  of  connective  al- 
ready described.  When  surrounding  a  tubercle  or  dis- 
eased spot  in  the  lung  it  presents  a  firm  resistant  sur- 
face, and  in  the  majority  of  cases  checks  the  spread  of 
the  disease,  and  that  is  the  reason  so  many  recover 
from  consumption. 

Tubercles  are  produced  by  a  low  form  of  inflamma- 
tion resulting  from  self-generated  poisons  in  the  sys- 
tem, as  described.  The  tubercles  do  not  contain  blood- 
vessels; their  lack  of  nourishment  and  failure  to  organ- 
ize as  healthy  tissue  leaves  them  without  foundation. 
They  are  built  from  septic  blood;  they  have  but  little 
vitality,  and  no  duty  in  life,  hence  easily  break  down. 
Many  new  cells  die;  many  white  corpuscles  lodge  at 
these  points  loose  their  vitality  and  die.  Blood  vessels 
always  contain  the  elements  of  fibrin,  and  these  ele- 


CONSUMPTION.  143 

ments  escaping  from  the  swollen  vessels  unite  in  the 
inflammatory  tissue,  and  together  with  the  destruction 
of  many  new  cells,  white  corpuscles  and  other  waste 
products  form  the  purulent  matter  which  is  expector- 
ated. In  all  forms  of  consumption  of  the  lungs  the 
walls  of  the  small  air  tubes  and  their  dilated  extremi- 
ties, the  air  cells  are  thickened  by  inflammation,  and 
both  are  more  or  less  filled  wth  a  catarrhal  exudate, 
and  embryonic  tissue;  some  of  which  is  cast  off  before 
it  has  time  to  mature.  The  changes  and  conditions 
described  are  responsible  for  the  consolidation  present. 
In  quick  consumption  death  occurs  before  many  of  the 
changes  have  time  to  occur. 

The  cause  of  quick  consumption  is,  that  the  system 
is  so  overcome  with  self -generated  poisons,  as  described, 
that  degenerative  changes  occur  in  different  parts  of 
the  body  at  the  same  time — as  the  lungs,  pleura,  diges- 
tive tract,  peritoneum,  kidneys,  liver,  brain,  etc.  These 
cases  prove  rapidly  fatal. 

In  tuberculosis,  pathologists  teach  that  the  tubercles 
first  form  in  the  mucous  membrane  which  line  the  air 
cells.  This  corresponds  exactly  with  the  statements 
made ;  i.  e.,  that  each  air  cell  is  surrounded  or  enveloped 
in  a  net  work  of  small  vessels,  and  through  this  system 
of  vessels  the  blood  is  constantly  pouring,  and  if  un- 
healthy and  irritating  produces  a  low  form  of  inflam- 
mation which  may  result  in  tuberculosis.  A  dead  or 
dying  cell  first  becomes  the  center  of  the  tubercule  by 
exciting  inflammation  around  it.  Dead  tissue  always 
excites  inflammation,  this  is  nature's  means  of  check- 
ing disease.  The  inflammation  surrounding  the  tuber- 


144  MICROBES    AND    HEALTH. 

cles  is  the  same  as  would  surround  a  bullet  or  any  other 
foreign  body  that  might  enter  the  lungs.  The  same 
condition  is  present  with  every  abscess.  The  zone  of 
new  tissue  which  surrounds  the  tubercle  or  abscess 
constitutes  the  battle  line;  it  is  the  struggle  between 
the  living  and  the  dead.  The  same  conditions  are  pres- 
ent in  gangrene.  It  has  been  stated  that  a  dead  cell 
forms  the  center  of  a  tubercle  by  exciting  inflamma- 
tion around  it;  also,  that  dust  aids  in  producing  con- 
sumption. Dust  may  also  aid  in  producing  tubercu- 
losis. When  the  vitality  of  the  lung  tissue  is  at  a  low 
ebb,  as  descrbed,  a  small  portion  of  dust  from  the  mill, 
the  factory,  or  that  furnished  by  the  stone  cutter  or 
iron  worker,  may  lodge  in  an  air  cell  and  form  the 
nucleus  of  a  tubercle.  Here,  again,  this  class  is  more 
liable  to  this  disease. 

Gases  arising  from  low  land,  bad  air,  poor  ventila- 
tion, lack  of  sunshine  and  exercise  also  aid  in  produc- 
ing consumption. 

Besides  the  reasons  already  given  for  consumption, 
Doctor  Thomas  J.  Mays,  A.  M.,  M.  D.,  professor  of 
diseases  of  the  chest  in  the  Philadelphia  Polyclinic, 
visiting  physician  to  Eush  hospital  for  consumptives, 
etc.,  and  recognized  as  one  of  the  most  able  men  in  the 
profession,  says  in  his  1901  treatise  on  consumption  and 
pneumonia,  that  any  pressure  upon  the  nerves  which 
supply  the  lungs,  pressure  from  an  enlarged  artery 
(aneurism),  pressure  from  a  tumor,  any  inflammatory 
swelling,  or  pressure  from  enlarged  glands  may  cause 
consumption. 

The  lungs  are  supplied  by  two  nerves  which  have 


CONSUMPTION.  145 

their  origin  in  the  lower  and  back  part  of  the  brain, 
at  its  junction  with  the  spinal  cord,  and  the  pressure 
results  in  more  or  less  degeneration  of  these  nerves, 
and  a  corresponding  loss  of  lung  power.  The  power  of 
respiration  is  lessened,  oxydation  is  lessened,  nutriti- 
tion  is  lessened,  uric  acid,  lactic  acid  and  other  irri- 
tants already  mentioned  are  increased,  and  degenera- 
tion of  the  lung  tissue  is  a  natural  result. 

A  tree  cannot  live  without  roots.  The  hand  cannot 
live  with  a  constricting  band  about  the  arm.  An  organ 
cannot  live  with  its  nerve  supply  pressed  upon  by 
tumors  or  inflammatory  swellings.  Degeneration  will 
follow  and  the  organs  supplied  by  such  nerves  will 
suffer  in  proportion. 

Dr.  Mays  says  that  poison  and  irritation  from  syph- 
ilis, mercury  and  lead  produces  degeneration  of  many 
nerves  including  those  which  supply  the  lungs,  and 
consumption  is  the  most  frequent  termination.  He 
records  many  cases  of  consumption  caused  by  mercurial 
poisoning.  Page  seventy-nine,  "seventy-one  per  cent 
of  those  who  work  in  mercury  mines  or  those  exposed 
to  mercury  fumes  die  of  consumption."  "Consump- 
tion is  a  common  inheritance  of  those  engaged  in  mer- 
cury manufacture."  Page  eighty-four,  "Consumption 
is  from  two  to  three  times  more  prevalent  among  lead 
workers  than  among  others  living  in  the  same  locality." 

Lead  and  mercury  are  eliminated  from  the  system 
slowly,  hence  their  greater  liability  to  accumulate  and 
produce  irritation  and  inflammation.  Doctor  Mays 
states  that  if  recovery  is  not  complete  consumption  is 
most  apt  to  follow  typhoid  fever,  whooping  cough, 
10 


146  MICROBES   AND   HEALTH. 

measles,,  influenza,  etc.  Page  104,  "Pulmonary  diseases 
and  especially  some  form  of  consumption  are  some  of 
the  most  common  sequellse." 

Uric  Acid. 

Doctor  Mays  mentions  uric  acid  as  another  cause  of 
consumption.  Page  105,  "It  seems  that  the  uric  acid 
diathesis  is  in  some  way  closely  connected  with,  and  is 
probably  indirectly  responsible  for  consumption." 

We  have  already  mentioned  uric  acid  on  page 
137.  On  page  400  Doctor  Mays  says:  "Among  the 
toxic  agents  which  have  the  power  of  engendering  pul- 
monary consumption  alcohol  stands  preeminent." 

Doctor  Mays  draws  his  conclusions  from  a  large  field 
of  observation,  and  by  means  of  post  mortem  examina- 
tions by  himself  and  many  others  in  different  coun- 
tries. Such  evidence  cannot  be  successfully  denied. 

Dyspepsia  is  the  mother  of  consumption.  The  irri- 
tation produced  by  mercury,  lead,  syphilis  and  the  vari- 
ous other  poisons  mentioned  all  interfere  with  the 
higher  forms  of  digestion  which  are  carried  on  in  the 
circulation. 

In  consumption  the  diseased  portion  of  a  lung  may 
become  calcified;  i.  e.,  lime  salts  carried  by  the  circula- 
tion may  be  gradually  deposited.  In  health  the  little 
cells  constituting  the  lung  tissues  do  not  absorb  lime 
salts,  but  in  their  diseased  condition  their  selective 
power  is  weakened  or  destroyed.  The  diseased  area 
may  become  encysted ;  i.  e.,  surrounded  by  a  thin  mem- 
brane of  connective  tissue,  as  already  described,  or  the 
connective  tissue  may  send  fibrous  bands  through  the 


CONSUMPTION.  147 

diseased  part  when  it  is  said  to  be  organized.  Blood 
vessels  are  supplied  and  the  healing  is  permanent;  the 
natural  lung  tissue  is  never  replaced.  Degeneration 
may  cause  the  tissue  to  soften  and  break  down — liquefy 
— and  this  may  be  followed  by  absorption;  i.  e.,  the 
matter  is  carried  away  by  the  circulation;  it  may  be 
expectorated,  or  both.  It  is  by  such  marks  that  post 
mortem  examinations  demonstrate  that  consumption 
has  existed  in  some  part  of  a  lung  at  some  time. 

Arteries  last  longer  than  lung-tissue,  hence  they  may 
extend  through  cavities  where  the  lung  is  destroyed. 
These  gradually  become  weaker  until  during  the  act 
of  coughing  they  may  rupture,  causing  hemorrhage 
and  sometimes  death.  Or  the  inflammation  may  allow 
blood-clots  to  form  in  an  artery,  and  the  artery  may 
be  obliterated  before  the  advancing  disease  can  reach 
it.  This  lessens  nutrition  and  hastens  the  disease. 
An  artery  may  be  weakened  where  it  is  in  close  relation 
with  a  cavity.  This  will  cause  bulging  into  the  cavity. 
This  constitutes  an  aneurism.  As  fast  as  the  cavity 
increases  the  aneurism  may  continue  to  fill  it,  until 
rupture  occurs,  which  results  in  fatal  hemorrhage. 

The  pleura,  a  thin  membrane  which  encloses  the 
lung,  may  become  inflamed,  greatly  thickened  and  more 
or  less  obliterated  by  inflammatory  adhesions;  i.  e.,  it 
may  become  attached  to  the  chest  wall  at  one  or  more 
points,  forming  cavities,  and  these  may  be  filled  with 
a  clear,  purulent  or  bloody  effusion,  the  result  of  the 
inflammation.  The  development  or  first  stage  is  in- 
sidious or  without  the  patient's  knowledge.  There  may 
be  a  gradual  loss  of  fleshf  and  strength  without  any 


148  MICROBES    AXD   HEALTH. 

known  cause,  poor  appetite,  slight  rise  in  temperature, 
little  cough,  pallid  appearance,  or  there  may  be  pain 
at  the  primary  seat  of  the  disease.  In  what  is  called 
the  second  stage  the  diseased  tissue  commences  to 
soften.  This  is  indicated  by  increased  cough  and  more 
or  less  free  expectoration.  There  is  increased  loss  of 
strength,  sensations  of  chilliness,  usually  in  the  morn- 
ing, with  slight  fever  in  the  evening,  night-sweats  and 
increased  emaciation.  In  all  these  conditions  the  po- 
tient  usually  remains  hopeful.  Physical  signs  are 
omitted. 

Germs. 

Bacteriologists  tell  us  that  consumption  is  caused  by 
a  germ,  and  that  the  disease  is  contagious.  Contrast 
the  foregoing  with  the  following  teachings  of  bacter- 
iology : 

The  Philadelphia  Board  of  Health  teaches  that  "all 
cases  of  tuberculosis  of  the  lungs  take  origin  directly 
or  indirectly  from  other  cases,  this  is  now  an  established 
fact." 

The  New  York  Board  of  Health  states  that  "con- 
sumption is  a  disease  of  the  lungs  which  is  taken  from 
others,  and  is  caused  by  germs." 

The  Michigan  Board  of  Health  states  that  "consump- 
tion is  a  dangerous  communicable  disease,  and  is 
caused  by  a  germ,  etc.,  etc." 

In  the  Physician  and  Surgeon  for  November,  1899, 
is  an  article  stating  that  "there  is  no  longer  any  dis- 
pute as  to  the  cause  of  consumption.  Scientists  are 


CONSUMPTION.  149 

agreed  that  the  consumption  germ  is  the  ultimate 
cause  of  all  so  called  tubercular  processes."  In  this 
connection  we  have  only  to  remember  that  regarding 
the  cause  of  disease,  bacteriologists  are  not  "scientists." 

Regarding  treatment,  this  same  bacteriologist  says: 
"Many  have  recovered  from  consumption  in  spite  of 
treatment."  This  can  only  mean  in  spite  of  improper 
or  wrong  treatment.  Here  the  bacteriologists  speak 
with  authority,  for  if  there  is  any  one  who  ought  to 
understand  improper  treatment,  it  is  they.  Again,  the 
article  mentioned  contains  these  words :  "Others  have 
sacrificed  life  to  the  absurd  emanations  of  unbalanced 
brains."  It  is  true  that  emanations  from  unbalanced 
brains  may  destroy  life,  and  it  seems  as  though  this 
fact  alone  would  set  the  bacteriologists  to  thinking. 
The  writer  of  the  article  says:  "The  finding  of  the 
germ  in  the  sputum  is  the  important  factor  in  diag- 
nosis." 

Again  he  states,  "We  should  not  condemn  a  person 
to  death  because  a  few  consumptive  germs  have  been 
found  in  the  sputum." 

Again,  "There  is  no  longer  any  doubt  about  the  cause 
of  consumption.  Scientists  are  agreed  that  the  con- 
sumptive germ  is  the  ultimate  cause  of  all  so  called 
tubercular  processes." 

Now  we  can  understand  how  it  is  that  "life  is  sacri- 
ficed through  the  absurd  emanations  from  unbalanced 
brains." 

Such  talks  reminds  us  of  the  small  boy's  composi- 
tion on  anatomy,  which  began  something  like  this :  The 


150  MICKOBES   AND    HEALTH. 

body  consists  of  three  parts,  the  hed,  the  chist  and  the 
stummick.  The  hed  contains  the  eyes  and  brains  when 
there  is  any. 

Green's  Pathology,  page  363,  states  that  "Tappeiner 
caused  dogs  to  inhale  daily  for  fourteen  days  six  grams 
(about  twenty-one  teaspoonfuls)  of  tubercular  sputa, 
delivered  during  six  hours  from  a  spray  into  a  narrow 
box  containing  the  animals."  The  dogs  "became  tuber- 
culous and  thus  tuberculosis  came  to  be  regarded  as  a 
specific  infectious  disease"  The  remarkable  feature  in 
this  transaction  was  that  the  dogs  lived  long  enough  to- 
carry  out  the  experiment.  Here  were  a  number  of  dogs 
shut  in  "narrow  boxes"  and  literally  fed  on  sputum 
from  tubercular  patients,  and  because  the  dogs  died, 
tuberculosis  was  declared  a  "specific  infectious  disease." 
What  foolishness. 

That  eminent  authority,  Doctor  Thomas  J.  Mays, 
says  in  his  treatise  on  consumption,  page  195 :  "Schot- 
telius  repeated  Tappeiner's  work,  with  some  variations. 
Instead  of  causing  his  dogs  to  inhale  the  sputum  from 
tuberculous  persons  only,  some  were  made  to  respire 
the  sputum  of  bronchitic,  but  non-tuberculous  persons ; 
others,  paticles  of  limberger  cheese  suspended  in  air, 
and  still  others  were  made  to  breathe  finely  powdered 
brain  substance.  In  all  these  cases  nodules,  analogous 
to  miliary  tubercle,  were  developed."  Doctor  Mays 
also  gives  much  other  evidence  of  a  like  nature. 

The  bacteriologists  also  tell  us,  on  page  369,  Green's 
Pathology:  "Having  no  power  of  motion,  the  white 
blood-cells  must  carry  the  tubercle  bacilli  through  the 
mucous  membrane  lining  the  air-cells  and  tubes  of  the 


CONSUMPTION.  151 

lungs.  The  white  cells  wandering  short  distances  may 
easily  reach  the  surface,  and  there  meet,  enclose  and 
carry  back  the  germ.  If  the  corpuscles  sicken  while  the 
germ  survives,  the  latter  may  find  themselves  in  some 
place  where  they  can  thrive  and  multiply,  and  thus 
tubercles  may  arise." 

This  merely  explains  how  consumptive  germs  gain  a 
foothold.  Eegarding  the  manner  in  which  the  disease 
spreads,  page  371  states:  "It  is  supposed  white  cells 
enter  a  primary  focus,  take  up  a  germ  and  wander  out 
again  into  the  surrounding  tissue,  there  to  sicken  and 
swell  into  a  giant  cell,  not  far  from  the  parent  mass. 
A  fresh  tubercle  thus  forms,  etc."  Page  356  to  370, 
and  many  other  pages,  contain  various  theories  from 
different  bacteriologists.  They  tell  us  the  white  cells 
have  the  power  to  destroy  germs,  see  page  54.  That 
they  act  as  a  body  guard,  "a  standing  army,"  and 
protect  the  body  from  invading  germs.  According  to 
this  nature's  plans  are  defeated.  Her  means  of  de- 
fense is  converted  into  a  means  of  spreading  disease. 

It  should  be  remembered  that  in  consumption,  as  in 
other  diseases,  bacteriologists  deal  only  with  theory 
pure  and  simple.  They  have  absolutely  nothing  to 
offer  except  theory.  They  make  all  their  experiments 
upon  rabbits,  guinea  pigs,  stray  dogs,  Algerian  rats,  etc. 

For  years  they  have  been  raising,  examining  and 
experimenting  with  what  they  are  pleased  to  call  the 
consumptive  germ,  and  they  understand  its  habits,  con- 
duct and  size  so  well  that  on  page  509  of  Physician 
and  Surgeon  for  November,  1899,  they  tell  us  that  it 


152  MICROBES   AND   HEALTH. 

requires  "seven  million  consumption  germs  to  fill  the 
eye  of  the  finest  cambric  needle."  What  valuable  in- 
formation, and  how  it  aids  in  bringing  back  to  health 
a  diseased  and  weakened  constitution. 

For  years  health  boards  and  other  bacteriologists 
have  taught  that  the  germ  discovered  by  Doctor  Koch 
is  the  cause  of  consumption.  But  since  that  time  so 
many  other  varities  have  been  discovered  that  admit- 
ting for  the  moment  that  consumption  is  caused  by  a 
germ,  the  bacteriologists  could  not  tell  to-day  what 
germ  produces  the  disease.  But  even  some  bacteri- 
ologists claim  that  it  is  not  a  germ  disease  at  all,  as  the 
following  shows : 

Page  368,  Physician  and  Surgeon,  says:  "Hueppe, 
professor  of  hygiene  in  the  University  of  Prague,  says : 
I  have  arrived  at  the  definite  opinion  that  the  tubercle 
bacillus  is  a  parasitic  growth,  and  is  not  a  true  bacter- 
ium at  all/  " 

Page  369  says:  "In  form  we  find  in  one  stage  of 
growth  a  round  coccus-like  organism;  again,  long 
bacillus-like  threads,  and  still  again,  the  peculiar  ray 
or  club-shaped  form." 

In  an  able  article  on  tuberculosis  in  the  National 
Medical  Review,  page  205,  it  is  stated:  "The  tubercle 
bacillus  is  an  organism  whose  status  (permanency) 
has  not  even  yet  been  definitely  settled.  There  are 
those  who  consider  it  a  form  of  fungus  growth  and 
there  is  some  evidence  that  renders  it  not  improbable. 
Branching  forms  have  been  described  resembling 
hypha;  i.  e.,  a  long  tread-like  branching  in  certain 


CONSUMPTION.  153 

plants  which  have  neither  roots,  stems  or  leaves."  The 
growth  upon  bouillon"  is  peculiar  and  mould-like. 

The  December  number  of  the  Physician  and  Surgeon, 
page  561,  states:  "Kegarding  the  disease  in  question, 
tuberculosis,  the  more  conservative  observers,  includ- 
ing also  I  am  happy  to  say,  many  bacteriologists,  con- 
cede that  although  the  tubercular  germ  is  the  important 
factor  in  the  large  majority  of  cases,  other  germs,  such 
as  the  streptococcus,  staphylococcus,  pneumococcus, 
etc.,  may  play  the  greatest  part  in  the  pathogenesis  of 
most  cases.  Again,  it  happens  that  new  varieties  of 
tubercular  germs  are  being  discovered,  which  seem 
to  differ  from  the  typical  one  in  many  respects,  viz.,  the 
avian,  bovine,  the  spirilla  or  branching  form,  the  actino- 
mycotic  forms,  the  smegma  bacillus  and  the  bacilli 
found  on  grass,  hay,  etc." 

The  foregoing  corresponds  exactly  with  the  state- 
ments on  page  43,  viz.,  that  all  kinds  of  germs  inhabit 
the  mouth,  being  taken  in  with  food  and  drink,  and 
also  from  the  air  during  the  process  of  breathing;  and 
that  they  are  continually  being  carried  downward 
through  the  act  of  swallowing,  and  by  respiration,  and 
thousands  of  them  find  their  way  into  the  air-passages. 
Hence  the  man  with  the  microscope  may  find  any  and 
all  varieties.  Bacteriologists  claim  that  while  the  germ 
may  be  absent  in  the  "regular  old-fashioned  consump- 
tion" they  are  always  present  in  tuberculosis.  Yet  it 
is  well  known  that  there  are  many  cases  of  tuberculosis 
in  which  no  germ  can  be  found,  as  just  stated.  The 
solution  is  very  simple,  notwithstanding;  the  man  had 


154  MICROBES  AND  HEALTH. 

consumption,  there  was  still  vitality  enough  to  destroy 
germ  life  before  they  reached  the  lungs.  In  such  cases 
germs  would  be  absent.  As  stated  on  page  152,  many 
varieties  of  germs  are  present  in  most  cases  of  consump- 
tion. The  products  of  inflammation  furnish  a  field  in 
which  germs  can  absorb  nourishment,  hence  their  pres- 
ence. 

It  should  be  remembered  that  germs  are  simply  scav- 
engers, feeding  upon  septic  matter  or  upon  the  septic 
elements  of  the  blood.  Their  presence  in  such  tissue 
is  perfectly  natural.  Their  action  aids  in  breaking 
down  and  liquefying  dead  and  useless  matter,  and  giv- 
ing the  elements  back  to  nature  and  thus  aiding  in  the 
recovery  of  the  patient  and  in  the  world's  economy. 
Germs  were  created  for  this  purpose.  They  are  the 
medium  through  which  all  material  progress  has  been 
made.  As  already  stated,  a  dead  cell  becomes  the 
center  of  a  tubercle  by  exciting  inflammation  around 
it.  Dead  cells  are  always  found  in  tubercles.  This  is 
known  and  taught  by  every  pathologist  and  bacteri- 
ologists admit  it  is  true.  Bacteriologists,  however, 
claim  that  tubercles  are  caused  by  germs,  yet  germs 
are  not  found  within  the  tubercles.  This  is  also  known 
and  taught  by  every  pathologist,  and  bacteriologists 
admit  it  is  true.  If  tubercles  are  caused  by  germs, 
why  is  it  that  germs  are  not  present  in  the  tubercle? 
It  is  only  reasonable  to  believe  that  if  tubercles  were 
caused  by  germs  the  germs  would  be  present  there. 
Bacteriologists  claim  that  germs  are  present  in  the  tis- 
sue surrounding  the  tubercle.  Exactly.  The  reason 
is,  the  tubercles  contain  no  blood  vessels  and  offer  no 


CONSUMPTION.  155- 

nourishment,  while  the  inflammatory  zone  surround- 
ing the  tubercle  contains  an  excess  of  blood,  hut  the 
blood  is  unhealthy.  The  pressure  from  the  dilated  ves- 
sels and  the  inflammatory  zone  of  new  tissue  strangu- 
late the  circulation  and  vitality  is  destroyed. 

In  such  a  field  germs  find  nourishment,  and  meet 
with  no  opposition.  The  products  of  inflammation  al- 
ways furnish  a  field  for  the  development  of  germ  life. 
This  is  nature's  plan  and  nature's  plans  are  perfect. 
For  instance,  a  tubercle  contains  no  blood  vessels. 
Tubercules  are  composed  of  dead  tissue  cells,  and  dead 
tissue  needs  no  blood  vessels.  Nature  never  supplies 
something  for  nothing.  But  the  man  needs  support 
to  eliminate  the  dead  tissue,  it  cannot  be  eliminated  al- 
together any  more  than  a  bullet  or  any  other  foreign 
body.  First,  it  must  be  reduced  to  a  liquid  or  gaseous- 
form,  and  it  is  for  this  purpose  that  germs  are  present. 
By  their  power  to  produce  fermentation  they  reduce 
the  dead  tissue  and  aid  in  separating  it  from  the  body. 
Here  we  see  that  the  absence  of  the  artery  and  the  pres- 
ence of  the  germ  are  a  wise  provision.  Every  board  of 
health  and  bacteriologists  admit  that  "all  the  processes 
comprised  in  the  terms  fermentation  and  putrifaction 
(degeneration  of  dead  tissue)  are  due  to  the  action  of 
vegetable  organisms — germs." 

Millions  of  germs  of  all  varieties  enter  the  system 
every  day  and  every  hour;  ihej  are  everywhere  present, 
in  the  body  as  well  as  out,  and  reduce  dead  matter  to  its 
ultimate  elements.  This  law  of  supply  and  demand 
has  existed  since  creation  began  and  will  continue  as 
long  as  life  is  maintained. 


156  MICROBES   AST)    HEALTH. 

-While  germs  destroy  dead  tissue  in  the  lungs,  they 
take  no  part  in  producing  the  long  train  of  conditions 
which  lead  up  to  the  disease,  and  which  may  include 
several  years. 

Dyspepsia  is  the  mother  of  consumption.  Everyone 
.understands  that  in  every  case  of  consumption,  the 
process  of  digestion  and  assimilation  suffer  more  or 
less  from  the  first.  These  conditions  are  not  caused  by 
germs  and  are  not  "catching."  Their  very  nature 
renders  it  impossible.  The  fact  that  consumption  is 
-of  slow  growth,  requiring  months  and  years  to  develop, 
is  sufficient  to  oppose  all  thought  of  contagion. 

Health  boards  teach  that  "there  is  no  longer  any 
doubt  regarding  the  cause  of  consumption.  Scientists 
are  agreed  that  the  germ  of  tuberculosis  is  the  ultimate 
-cause  of  all  so  called  tubercular  processes/' 

"All  cases  of  consumption  are  taken  from  others." 

"Consumption  is  contagious." 

"Consumption  is  caused  by  a  germ,"  etc. 

Are  these  statements  true  ?  Let  us  see.  In  a  recent 
'discussion  regarding  the  contagiousness  of  consump- 
tion, as  reported  in  the  December,  1899,  number  of  the 
Physician  and  Surgeon,  the  following  statements  were 
advanced  by  some  of  the  leading  physicians  of  this 
country:  "I  certainly  believe  that  the  state  of  our 
society  at  the  present  time  does  not  warrant  any  such 
measures  as  are  being  taken  by  the  board  of  health. 
"I  do  not  think  that  the  profession  as  a  whole  in  this 
state  will  back  up  the  State  Board  of  Health  in  this 
connection,  and  one  of  the  difficulties  is  that  the  man 
who  has  charge  of  the  work  of  the  board  of  health  in 


CONSUMPTION.  157' 

this  state  is  a  man  who  has  never  practised  medicine. 
He  is  a  man  who  gets  all  the  knowledge  he  has  on  the 
subject  from  a  study  of  theoretical  books.  His  knowl- 
edge is  the  knowledge  of  the  laboratory,  and  not  of 
the  practical." 

"I  have  had  some  personal  experience  in  my  own 
family  with  this  disease.  I  had  a  very  near  and  dear- 
relative  who  had  consumption  for  a  great  many  years, 
and  who  eventually  died  of  it.  She  had  a  husband" 
and  four  children  who  lived  with  her  all  that  time  in 
the  same  house.  Absolutely  no  precautions  whatever 
were  taken.  She  lived  for  years  in  that  house,  cough- 
ing as  consumptives  do.  Not  one  of  the  household' 
ever  acquired  the  disease,  nor  have  they  to  this  day. 
To  have  been  obliged,  as  a  medical  man,  to  do  to  that 
relative  what  the  board  of  health  has  ordered  shall 
be  done  to  other  consumptives  in  this  state,  to  me- 
would  have  seemed  cruel  and  useless  beyond  all 
expression." 

Another  physician  said:  "I  am  of  the  opinion  that 
tuberculosis  is  not  contagious,  and  for  that  reason  I 
would  oppose  quarantine  and  isolation,  as  proposed  by 
the  board  of  health." 

In  an  editorial  appearing  in  the  May,  1899,  number 
of  the  Medical  Brief  is  the  following:  "Our  local 
medical  dictatorship,  ordinarily  known  as  the  board 
of  health,  has  succeeded  in  getting  a  bill  introduced  to- 
the  city  council  declaring  consumption  contagious. 
This  act  is  an  outrage  on  both  the  medical  profession 
and  the  people  of  the  community.  By  this  bill  the 
health  board  arbitrarily  assumes  the  authority  to  decide- 


158  MICROBES    AND   HEALTH. 

that  consumption  is  contagious,  notwithstanding  the 
fact  that  the  ablest  men  in  the  profession  say  that  it  is 
not.  The  bill  asks  for  a  grant  of  what  is  practically 
unlimited  power  to  adopt  and  execute  such  measures 
as  the  board  may  deem  necessary  to  stamp  out  the  dis- 
ease. That  is  to  say,  any  person  suspected  of  con- 
sumption has  no  rights  which  the  health  board  is  bound 
to  respect.  He  may  be  snatched  away  from  home, 
friends  and  business,  buried  alive  in  some  cheerless 
hospital,  there  to  drag  out  a  miserable,  monotonous 
existence,  at  the  dictum  of  a  few  political  doctors. 

The  men  who  compose  our  health  boards  are  seldom 
men  of  large  clinical  experience.  In  the  very  nature 
of  things,  men  who  are  doing  large  practices  have  no 
time  to  give  to  official  duties.  It  is  the  men  who  de- 
vote themselves  to  the  theoretical  and  speculative  side 
of  medical  science  who  seek  office,  then  misrepresent 
the  profession  and  usurp  their  rights,  by  their  abuse  of 
authority.  We  should  like  to  know  on  what  grounds 
health  boards  assume  the  right  to  act  for  the  profes- 
sion/' etc.,  etc. 

Again  quoting  from  the  September,  1899,  number: 
"Our  local  board  of  health  is  again  at  work,  trying  to 
secure  the  passage  of  an  ordinance  empowering  it  to 
take  measures  as  may  seem  necessary  to  prevent  the 
spread  of  tuberculosis.  The  text  of  the  ordinance  is 
very  broad  in  its  scope,  giving  the  board  full  control 
of  all  cases  of  consumption.  Physicians  are  required 
to  report  every  case  in  their  care,  and  the  board  is  em- 
powered to  fumigate  the  houses  of  patients,  and  make 
other  provisions  to  prevent  the  spread  of  the  disease. 


CONSUMPTION.  159 

Mark  the  indefiniteness  of  this  last  clause.  It  can  be 
used  to  legally  cloak  any  measure  of  oppression  ^which 
the  health  board  may  choose  to  employ.  Moreover  the 
ordinance  recognizes  the  contagiousness  of  consump- 
tion as  an  established  fact,  whereas  it  is  a  barefaced  as- 
sumption on  the  part  of  the  board.  The  contagious 
nature  of  consumption  is  denied  by  all  the  ablest  men 
in  the  profession.  Legislative  measures  to  stamp  out 
consumption  are  not  new,  and  have  always  proved  in- 
adequate." 

Another  article  in  the  March,  1900,  number  states: 
"Regarding  the  California  board  of  health,  dominated 
by  a  German  physician  named  Maher,  who  entertains 
the  delusion  that  consumption  is  contagious,  it  pro- 
poses that  no  person  suffering  from  consumption  shall 
be  allowed  to  attend  the  public  schools  of  Oakland,  in 
the  capacity  of  teacher  or  scholar.  Any  employee  or 
pupil  under  the  jurisdiction  of  the  public  school  de- 
partment, suspected  of  having  pulmonary  tuberculosis, 
must  either  leave  or  submit  to  a  bacteriological  exami- 
nation by  the  city  bacteriologist,  whose  finding  shall  be 
the  only  evidence(?)  required  by  the  board  of  educa- 
tion. If  consumption  were  contagious  there  would  be 
no  state  of  California — no  Oakland  board  of  health  to 
pass  the  time  making  foolish  rules.  If  consumption 
were  contagious  the  civilized  world  would  long  since 
have  been  depopulated,"  etc. 

Thomas  J.  Mays,  already  quoted,  says  in  his  new 
book  on  consumption,  page  197-210:  "Certain  facts 
have  given  rise  to  the  deep-seated  and  prevalent  belief 
that  phthisis  is  a  most  contagious  disease,  and  that  if 


160  MICROBES    AXD   HEALTH. 

measures  of  isolation  and  disinfection  are  properly  en- 
forced, the  disease,  as  is  held,  by  some,  will  be  extermi- 
nated in  a  single  generation.  By  common  consent  it 
must  be  admitted  that  if  this  doctrine  of  the  stamp- 
ing out  of  this  disease  is  correct  it  should  be  regarded 
as  a  sacred  trust,  and  should  receive  the  sanction  and 
encouragement  of  every  loyal  citizen.  If,  on  the  other 
hand,  it  is  erroneous,  it  is  equally  clear  that  those  who 
are  afflicted  with  the  disease  are  terribly  wronged  and 
injured  and  that  the  public  is  deceived  concerning  the 
true  nature,  cause  and  prevention  of  consumption. 

'Thysicians  who  are  constantly  exposed  to  consump- 
tion are  much  less  subject  to  this  disease  than  are  others 
who  scarcely  come  in  contact  with  it,  except  by  chance. 
The  statistics  of  the  Brompton  Hospital  for  Consump- 
tion, in  London,  show  that  during  a  period  of  thirty- 
six  years  not  a  single  clearly  authenticated  case  of  con- 
sumption arose  within  its  walls  among  its  twenty-nine 
physicians  and  assistant  physicians,  its  one  hundred 
and  fifty  clinical  assistants  and  its  one  hundred  and 
one  nurses,  of  which  there  existed  a  health  record.  The 
statistics  of  Friedrichshain  Hospital,  in  Berlin,  as  fur- 
nished by  Dr.  Fiirbinger,  demonstrate  that  during  a 
period  of  sixteen  years  out  of  459  male  nurses  there 
were  4  (2  of  whom  were  tuberculous  before  entering); 
of  339  female  nurses,  there  were  2;  of  83  physicians, 
there  were  3  (1  of  whom  entered  with  the  disease)  who 
became  consumptive.  Of  108  Victoria  sisters,  who 
were  engaged  as  nurses  in  the  same  institution  from 
two  to  five  and  a  half  years,  only  one  became  consump- 
tive. 


CONSUMPTION.  161 

"These  figures  are  strikingly  confirmed  "by  those 
which  come  from  the  private  sanitarium  for  consump- 
tion in  Gorbersdorf,  Germany.  Dr.  Brehmer3  who  had 
been  in  charge  of  this  large  institution  for  twenty  years, 
states  that  since  the  year  1854  more  than  10,000  con- 
sumptives resided  in  the  hospital,  who  daily  walked  the 
streets  of  the  town  and  commingled  with  its  inhabit- 
ants. The  latter  were,  therefore,  continually  respiring 
an  atmosphere  which  was  more  or  less  impregnated 
with  tubercle  bacilli  emanating  from  the  dried  expec- 
toration of  these  consumptive  visitors,  yet,  in  spite  of 
these  favorable  conditions  for  contagion,  it  appears 
that  the  mortality  from  this  disease  is  50  per  cent  less 
among  the  Gorbersdorf  population  since  than  it  was  be- 
fore the  establishment  of  the  hospital. 

"The  same  is  true  of  Falkenstein,  a  town  near  Frank- 
fort, Germany,  in  close  proximity  to  which  Dr.  Det- 
tweiler  located  a  private  sanatorium  for  consumptives 
in  1877.  The  health  statistics  of  this  place  show  that 
during  twenty  years  previous  to  the  establishment  of 
the  institution  the  death-rate  from  consumption  among 
the  Falkenstein  inhabitants  was  4.0  per  1,000  living, 
while  for  eighteen  years  since  its  existence  the  death- 
rate  from  this  disease  fell  to  2.4  per  1,000  living  inhab- 
itants. 

"Dr.  Haupt,  of  Soden,  a  resort  for  consumptives  in 
the  south  of  Germany  states  that  among  the  inhabit- 
ants of  this  town  there  are  101  individuals  who  let 
lodgings  to  consumptive  visitors  during  the  summer 
months.  These  patients  are  nursed  and  cared  for 
chiefly  by  the  inmates  of  the  families — the  work  of 


162  MICROBES   AND    HEALTH. 

making  the  patients'  beds,  cleaning  their  rooms,  beat- 
ing the  carpets,  removing  the  expectoration,  etc.,  being 
performed  by  female  servants.  During  the  winter 
months  the  rooms  are  reoccupied  by  members  of  the 
landlord's  families.  From  1855  to  1888 — a  period  of 
thirty-three  years — 10  of  the  238  members  of  the  local 
families  died  from  consumption,  and  five  of  the  415 
servant  girls  died  of  the  same  disease,  but  in  none  of 
•these  instances,  so  far  as  could  be  ascertained,  was  the 
malady  traceable  to  contagion. 

"Dr.  J.  Adams,  of  Colorado  Springs,  Colorado,  states 
that  this  place  has  been  a  health  resort  for  about  seven- 
teen years,  and  comprises  about  11,000  inhabitants, 
and  that  the  majority  of  the  rooms  in  the  many  board- 
ing and  lodging  houses  are  and  generally  have  been 
occupied  by  consumptives.  After  a  diligent  search 
throughout  the  whole  city  he  only  found  a  record  of 
seven  cases  of  consumption  that  originated  among  the 
local  inhabitants  during  this  time,  and  so  far  as  could 
be  found  out  none  of  these  cases  were  specially  exposed. 

"Dr.  P.  Langerhans,  who  practised  medicine  for  nine 
years  in  Madeira,  an  island  which  is  visited  every  winter 
season  by  about  400  consumptives,  observes  that  these 
invalids  are  lodged,  boarded  and  in  great  part  nursed 
by  English  colonists,  varying  from  210  to  250  in  num- 
ber, who  live  in  about  100  houses.  The  rooms  which 
are  occupied  by  consumptives  in  the  winter  are  reoc- 
cupied during  the  summer  by  the  colonists'  families, 
thus  insuring  the  closest  intermingling  of  the  well  with 
the  sick.  The  health  records  of  this  island,  which  have 
been  accurately  kept  since  1836,  show  that  only  four 


CONSUMPTION.  163 

of  the  English  colonists  died  from  consumption  during 
this  time,  and  that  one  of  these  suffered  from  the  dis- 
ease before  he  came  on  the  island. 

"The  testimony  which  relates  to  the  contagiousness 
of  this  disease  between  husband  and  wife  is  of  a  similar 
negative  character.  Dr.  Schnyder,  of  Switzerland, 
gives  a  record  of  844  cases  of  consumption  occurring 
among  married  people.  In  445  of  these  the  husband 
only,  and  in  367  the  wife  only,  was  consumptive,  while 
in  32  instances  both  husband  and  wife  were  affected, 
showing  that  in  812  of  these  cases  there  was  no  proof 
of  contagion.  Dr.  Schnyder  furthermore  says  that 
four  of  the  thirty  cases  came  to  him  fresh  from  the 
matrimonial  altar  affected  with  the  first  signs  of  con- 
sumption, and  he  believes  that  in  spite  of  all  warnings 
young  people  are  frequently  married  while  suffering 
from  this  disease.  Out  of  1,000  phthisical  patients 
Cotton  met  with  11,  7  men  and  4  women,  who  had 
previously  lost  a  husband  or  a  wife  from  this  disease. 
Reginald  Thompson,  out  of  15,000  consumptives,  re- 
cords 15  cases  in  which  wives  had  been  apparently  in- 
fected from  their  husbands.  Out  of  6,167  patients  the 
second  report  of  the  Brompton  Hospital  for  Consump- 
tion (1863)  gives  239  widowed  persons,  83  males  and 
156  females,  who  had  previously  lost  a  husband  or  wife 
from  phthisis;  i.  e.,  1.7  per  cent.  Dr.  Austin  Flint 
contributes  the  history  of  670  cases  of  consumption 
affecting  husbands  and  wives,  and  among  these  there 
were  only  five  in  which  a  suspicion  existed  that  the  dis- 
ease might  have  been  contracted  from  one  or  the  other; 
but  it  is  certain,  he  says,  that  the  instances  in  which 


164  MICROBES   AND   HEALTH. 

transmissibility  may  be  suspected  can  also  be  ac- 
counted for  as  coincidences  in  a  disease  which  is  so 
widespread  as  consumption. 

"THE   OPINIONS   OF   AUTHORS   OF    TREATISES    ON    PUL- 
MONARY  CONSUMPTION   REGARDING  THE  CON- 
TAGIOUSNESS   OF    THIS    DISEASE. 

"In  this  connection  it  is  of  interest  to  know  the 
conclusions  which  those  have  reached  on  the  question  of 
contagion  who  have  made  phthisis  a  life-long  study,  who 
have  written  special  treatises  on  this  disease,  and  who 
are,  therefore,  entitled  to  an  authoritative  opinion  on 
this  subject.  Laennec,  in  his  illustrious  work,  says: 
'We  frequently  observe,  among  the  poorer  classes,  a 
numerous  family  sleeping  in  the  same  apartment  with 
a  consumptive  patient,  and  a  husband  occupying,  to 
the  last,  the  same  bed  with  his  wife  without  any  com- 
munication of  the  disease.  The  woolen  apparel  and 
the  beds  of  consumptive  subjects,  which  it  is  the  custom 
to  burn  in  some  countries,  are  not  even  generally 
washed,  much  less  destroyed,  in  France,  and  yet  I  have 
never  seen  the  disease  communicated  by  them.'  Portal 
says  that  he  was  brought  up  in  the  contagious  belief 
but  abandoned  it.  Ancell  believes  that  'the  doctrine 
of  contagion  has  at  all  times  been  based  on  very  vague 
and  insufficient  evidence,  such  as  isolated  cases  of  the 
occurrence  of  the  disease  in  individuals  who  had  pre- 
viously been  in  constant  attendance  upon  the  sick, 
or  in  husbands  or  wives,  where  both  had  slept  in  the 
same  bed  until  the  fatal  termination  of  the  disease  in 
the  one  first  affected.  In  appealing  to  these  facts  as 


CONSUMPTION.  165 

evidence  of  contagion  no  account  is  taken  of  the  anti- 
hygienic  influences  to  which  the  individuals  had  been 
subjected  or  of  the  probability  of  a  common  or  inde- 
pendent source  of  hereditary  transmission  or  of  the 
predisposition  or  the  actual  disease  acquired  previously. 
Against  the  few  facts  which  tend  to  support  the  doc- 
trine of  contagion  there  are  tens  of  thousands  against 
it/  Dr.  Aufrecht,  after  referring  somewhat  exten- 
sively to  the  contagion  theory,  says:  *  *  *  'and 
less  justifiable  are  the  reckless  conclusions  drawn  by 
Koch  concerning  the  etiological  indication  of  the  tuber- 
cle bacillus/  Dr.  Dettweiler  writes  of  the  freedom 
from  phthisis  of  those  who  are  engaged  in  the  care 
of  the  phthisical  in  hospitals,  and  then  says:  'My 
own  fourteen  years'  experience  in  hospitals  for  con- 
sumption is  in  perfect  accord  with  this/  The  late 
Dr.  Hermann  Brehmer,  the  founder  of  the  large  and 
world-renowned  hospital  for  consumptives  in  Gorbers- 
dorf,  Germany,  and  who  has  done  so  much  to  place  the 
treatment  of  consumption  on  a  scientific  basis,  opposed 
the  contagion  theory  of  this  disease  most  strenuously. 
Dr.  Arthur  Kansome  declares  that  'at  the  present  time 
the  dread  of  infection  from  consumptive  persons  is  out 
of  all  proportion  to  the  danger,  and  goes  far  beyond 
what  the  facts  of  the  case  justify.  In  its  results  this 
alarm  is  likely  to  cause  much  injustice  to  many  poor 
invalids,  and  in  some  cases  to  endanger  their  pros- 
pects of  cure.  The  sites  for  consumption  hospitals 
are  becoming  as  difficult  to  find  as  those  for  smallpox 
hospitals,  and  utterly  unfounded  reports  as  to  the 
spread  of  phthisis  by  such  institutions  are  recklessly 


166  MICKOBES   AND   HEALTH. 

made,  even  by  medical  officers  of  health.'  On  page  31, 
in  continuation  of  the  same  subject,  he  says:  'I  have 
never  yet  found  any  satisfactory  proof  of  infection, 
direct  or  indirect,  in  any  well  ventilated  house  in  this 
country,  and  this  in  spite  of  close  contact,  as  in  the 
attendance  of  a  wife  upon  her  husband  or  in  the  nurs- 
ing and  sleeping  together  of  near  relatives  and  friends/ 
The  late  Dr.  James  E.  Learning  uses  the  following 
example  to  illustrate  the  false  notion  of  tubercular  con- 
tagion :  'A  mother,  after  watching  her  children,  three 
or  four  in  number,  through  scarlatina  of  a  severe  type, 
began  to  cough,  lose  weight  and  finally  died  of  phthisis. 
She  was  well  when  the  children  were  taken  ill;  she  was 
a  loving,  anxious  mother,  and  as  they  were  attacked 
successively  the  time  of  her  anxiety  was  prolonged. 
The  children  all  recovered,  but  the  mother  was  sacri- 
ficed. She  was  not  aware  of  having  taken  cold.  The 
cough  was  so  insidious  that  no  one  could  tell  when  it 
commenced.  Had  there  been  the  same  prolonged 
anxiety  over  a  case  of  phthisis,  followed  by  inconsolable 
despair  at  the  loss  of  the  loved  one,  it  would  have 
seemed  to  prove  the  communicability  of  consumption/ 
Dr.  Alexander  James  makes  the  statement  that  'many 
examples  of  contagion,  real  or  apparent,  have,  of 
course,  been  brought  forward,  but  the  records  of  con- 
sumption hospitals  and  the  fact  that  one  often  sees  in 
a  general  hospital  a  phthisical  case  with  numerous 
bacilli  in  his  sputum,  having  alongside  of  him  patients 
with  fibroid,  bronchiectatic  or  syphilitic  disease,  and 
yet  in  whose  sputum  or  lungs  no  trace  of  bacilli  can  be 
discovered,  seem  incompatible  with  a  belief  in  con- 


CONSUMPTION.  167 

tagion/  Dr.  Douglass  Powell  says :  'My  own  personal 
experience  and  observation  convince  me  that,  apart 
from  artificial  conditions — such  as  those  brought  about 
by  experiment — and  in  the  ordinary  circumstances  of 
life,  phthisis  is  not  an  infectious  malady/  Dr.  Wilson 
Fox  clearly  condenses  his  views,  as  follows:  'There 
are  few  writers  who  have  not  admitted  the  possibility 
of  some  contagion,  but  I  venture  to  think  that  the 
evidence,  as  it  stands,  shows  that  even  if  this  possibility 
has  an  authentic  foundation  the  extent  and  degree  to 
which  contagion  ordinarily  extends  are  singularly 
small/  Dr.  Theodore  Williams  declares:  'My  own 
experience  is  that  for  the  last  twenty  years  I  have  care- 
fully watched  for  cases  of  infection  in  hospital  and 
private  practice,  and  though  I  have  come  across  a  cer- 
tain number  of  apparent  cases  they  have  nev&r  stood 
the  test  of  close  inquiry,  there  being  always  some  addi- 
tional element  to  explain  the  causation  of  disease/ 

"THE  MEANS  OF  PREVENTION  THAT  HAVE  BEEN  IN- 
VOKED IN  THE  PAST  BY  THE  CONTAGION 
DOCTEINE. 

"It  is  doubtful  whether  the  history  of  any  medical  idea 
is  invested  with  more  curiosity  and  interest  than  that 
which  hangs  over  that  of  the  contagiousness  of  phthisis. 
The  doctrine  is  a  very  old  one — dating  back  to  Aris- 
totle's time — but  in  the  last  quarter  of  the  eighteenth 
century  it  had  gathered  such  force  and  importance  in 
some  of  the  Italian  states  that  stringent  laws  were 
passed  concerning  the  disinfection  of  the  rooms  in  which 
consumptives  died,  and  of  the  clothes  which  they  had 


168  MICROBES   AND   HEALTH. 

worn.  In  1754  the  Grand  Duke  of  Tuscany,  being  im- 
bued with  the  truthfulness  of  the  contagious  doctrine  of 
phthisis,  addressed  the  College  of  Physicians  of  Florence 
on  this  subject,  but  the  latter,  not  being  able  to  view  the 
question  in  the  same  light,  made  a  negative  report  on  it. 
In  spite  of  this  action  an  ordinance  was  passed  by  the 
government  making  it  compulsory  on  all  medical  prac- 
titioners to  report,  under  the  penalty  of  a  fine  of  100 
scudi,  every  case  of  'true  confirmed  phthisis'  to  the 
Health  Tribunal  in  Florence,  and  to  the  governor,  com- 
missioners and  magistrates  having  criminal  jurisdiction 
in  the  other  provinces.  In  every  case  of  this  kind  the 
magistrate  ordered  an  exact  inventory  of  all  articles  in 
the  patient's  room,  or  used  by  him,  so  that  a  thorough 
disinfection  could  be  made  in  case  of  death.  After  the 
consumptive's  death  those  who  had  taken  care  of  him, 
and  those  who  had  charge  of  his  clothes,  were  com- 
pelled to  report  themselves  to  the  proper  authority. 
The  owners  of  houses  inhabited  by  phthisical  patients 
were  not  allowed  to  eject  them,  because  such  action 
might  render  them  homeless  and  wanderers,  and  facili- 
tate the  spread  of  the  disease.  The  heirs  of  consump- 
tives were  forbidden  to  sell  anything  that  had  been 
used  in  their  illness  for  a  month  after  their  death. 
Patients  were  enjoined  to  expectorate  only  in  special 
vessels  of  glass  or  glazed  earthenware,  which  were  to 
be  emptied  and  cleaned  frequently.  These  laws  were 
strictly  enforced  for  thirty-nine  years — until  1783 — 
when,  on  account  of  a  want  of  support  on  the  part  of 
the  medical  profession,  they  were  repealed  by  the  Grand 


CONSUMPTION.  169 

Duke,  Pietro  Leopoldo,  as  being  'a  cause  of  bitterness, 
dissatisfaction  and  vexation/ 

"In  1767  the  State  of  Lucca  passed  similar  laws,  in 
which  the  rules  for  cleansing  and  disinfection  that  had 
to  be  adopted  in  cases  of  death  from  phthisis  were  set 
forth  in  minutest  detail. 

"In  1772  the  Guardians  of  the  Public  Health  of 
Pesaro  asked  the  corresponding  officials  at  Venice  for 
advice  concerning  the  disposal  of  the  clothes  of  per- 
sons who  had  died  of  phthisis.  The  latter  referred  this 
question  to  their  Protomedico,  Giambattista  Paitoni, 
and  he  replied  in  a  monograph  in  which  he  held  that 
in  the  course  of  a  long  experience  he  had  seen  many 
evil  effects  from  the  neglect  of  necessary  precautions  'to 
protect  one  against  a  disease  of  such  a  nature/  He 
recommended  that  all  things  used  by  consumptives 
should  be  dealt  with  in  the  same  manner  as  in  the  case 
of  'contagious  pestilential  influences/  He  laid  special 
stress  on  the  importance  of  taking  care  that  the  clothes 
of  a  consumptive  should  not  fall  into  the  hands  of 
'filthy  and  miserly  second-hand  dealers,  who  then  sell 
them  again  with  impunity,  thus  trafficking  in  the  health 
of  men/ 

"On  the  strength  of  the  opinion  of  health  officers  the 
Venetian  government  issued  an  ordinance,  December 
24,  1772,  to  the  effect  that  no  one  in  any  part  of  Vene- 
tian territory  should,  'under  any  pretext  whatever  sell, 
or  in  any  way  part  with  or  dispose  of,  receive  or  pur- 
chase clothes  or  other  effects,  which  had  been  used  by 
persons  suffering  from  phthisis,  unless  they  had  first 


170  MICROBES    AND    HEALTH. 

been  properly  disinfected.  Breach  of  this  regulation 
was  punishable  by  death,  imprisonment,  or  the  galleys. 
Medical  practitioners  were  compelled  to  notify  all  cases 
of  death  from  phthisis  so  that  the  sanitary  officer  might 
give  the  necessary  orders.  For  greater  security  secret 
notifications  were  received,  and  those  giving  informa- 
tion, authenticated  with  their  names,  to  the  authorities 
were  rewarded.' 

"On  August  19,  1772,  the  Sacra  Consulta  of  Rome 
issued  a  circular  to  all  the  Papal  States  urging  them 
to  exercise  the  most  vigilant  care  to  prevent  the  sale  of 
clothing  belonging  to  persons  who  had  died  of  that 
'pernicious  communicable  disease'  (phthisis).  'Medical 
practitioners  were  enjoined  to  notify  all  deaths  from 
this  cause,  and  to  draw  up  an  inventory  of  the  things 
which  had  been  used  by  the  deceased.  It  was  expressly 
directed  that  for  this  inventory  no  charge  should  be 
made,  and  it  was  further  provided  that  if  it  was  found 
advisable  to  burn  any  part  of  the  belongings  of  the 
dead,  and  a  poor  family  was  thus  deprived  of  things 
needful  for  domestic  purposes,  limited  compensation 
should  be  made.' 

"  'At  Bologna,  the  second  city  of  the  Papal  States, 
an  ordinance  was  issued  in  1773  in  which  a  further  pro- 
vision was  made  to  that  of  the  Sacra  Consulta  of  Rome. 
By  this  the  introduction  of  clothes,  linen  or  other  things 
used  by  consumptive  persons  into  the  city  or  its  sub- 
urbs from  any  other  region,  without  an  official  certifi- 
cate of  disinfection,  was  strictly  forbidden.  Not  only 
physicians  and  surgeons,  but  parish  priests  were  bound 
to  notify  cases  of  death  from  phthisis,  in  order  that  the 


CONSUMPTION.  171 

authorities  might  see  that  disinfection  was  carried  out. 
Three  years  later  the  scope  of  the  ordinance  was  ex- 
tended so  as  to  make  the  notification  of  illness  com- 
pulsory as  well  as  those  of  death.  Secret  notifications 
were  received,  and  half  the  fine  imposed  for  breach  of 
ordinance  was  assigned  to  the  informer.  The  physi- 
cians of  Bologna  appear  to  have  treated  the  ordinance 
with  scant  respect,  and  the  Cardinal  Legate  accordingly 
threatened  to  proceed  against  them.  They,  therefore, 
selected  two  of  their  body  to  draw  up  a  memorial  set- 
ting forth  the  grounds  of  their  disbelief  in  the  contagi- 
ousness of  phthisis.  *  *  *  The  authorities,  how- 
ever, stood  firm/ 

"In  1782  most  stringent  laws  for  disinfecting  the 
belongings  of  the  phthisical  were  introduced  into  the 
kingdom  of  Naples  by  Ferdinand  IV,  and  which  were 
maintained  for  more  than  fifty  years.  The  penalties 
for  non-observance  of  the  regulations  were  extremely 
severe.  For  interfering  with  the  sanitary  officers  in 
the  .discharge  of  their  duty  'ignoble'  persons  were  pun- 
ished with  three  years  of  the  galleys  or  prison;  'nobles' 
by  three  years'  confinement  in  a  fortress  and  a  fine  of 
300  ducats.  Physicians  received  a  similar  fine  for  the 
first  offense  and  ten  years'  banishment  for  the  second. 
'Purchasers  of  infected  clothing  were  punished  by  three 
years  of  the  galleys,  while  those  who  sold  them  were 
fined  three  times  the  value  of  the  articles  sold.'  In 
every  case  the  ceilings,  walls,  floors,  doors  and  windows 
of  rooms  in  which  consumptives  died  were  torn  out  and 
burned,  and  new  ones  were  substituted.  The  bedding 
and  furniture  shared  the  same  fate,  and  such  dwellings 


172  MICROBES   AND   HEALTH. 

were  not  inhabitable  for  one  year.  If  owners  rented 
such  houses  before  the  expiration  of  the  prescribed  time 
they  were  imprisoned  for  three  years  and  the  tenants 
were  exiled.  All  the  phthisical  patients  were  forced 
to  enter  the  hospital  for  incurables  in  Naples,  and  were 
detained  there  until  they  were  either  cured  or  dead. 
The  family  with  phthisis  in  its  midst  was  shunned  and 
•driven  to  want,  and  houses  in  which  consumptives  died 
<3ame  into  disrepute  and  many  of  their  owners  were 
turned  into  beggars. 

"Laws  of  a  similar  character  were  introduced  and  en- 
forced in  certain  parts  of  Spain  and  Portugal. 

"That  which  is  of  the  greatest  interest  to  us  here  is 
as  to  the  practical  benefit  which  followed  the  introduc- 
tion of  these  draconic  measures.  According  to  Uffel- 
mann,  Dr.  de  Renzi,  the  historian  of  Italian  medicine, 
states  that  the  injury  which  had  been  inflicted  on 
Naples  by  these  laws  was  simply  indescribable,  and  he 
•denounces  the  Neapolitan  medical  faculty  in  the  sever- 
est terms  for  participating  in  their  practical  introduc- 
tion. Among  other  things  Dr.  A.  L.  Pierson  wrote  of 
a  Neapolitan  hospital,  in  1834,  as  follows:  'One  can 
hardly  realize  that  so  much  has  been  said  and  written 
to  recommend  this  city  as  a  residence  for  consumptives, 
when  some  of  the  best  informed  Neapolitan  physicians 
estimate  the  deaths  from  consumption  among  the  resi- 
dents at  one-fourth  of  the  whole  mortality/  One  of 
the  most  reliable  medical  publications  in  the  English 
language  states  that  Drs.  Spattuzzi  and  Somma  have 
paid  great  attention  to  the  mortuary  returns  in  the  City 
of  Naples  (about  1866),  and  affirm  that  one-sixth  of 


CONSUMPTION.  13 

the  whole  mortality  is  due  to  phthisis ;  and  Dr.  de  Renzi 
marvels  greatly,  in  1863,  that  the  City  of  Naples  is 
fully  as  much  liable  to  this  disease  as  either  London  or 
Paris,  though  the  salutary  condition  of  the  climate 
should  render  it  far  less  common. 

"It  seems,  therefore,  if  the  death-rate  from  con- 
sumption was  the  same  in  Naples  at  the  time  these 
laws  were  abolished  as  it  was  in  other  cities  in  which 
segregation  (isolation)  was  never  practised,  that  the 
practical  value  of  such  measures  was  entirely  negative." 
— worthless. 

Again,  a  prominent  bacteriologist  stated  in  Detroit 
recently,  "It  is  usually  held  that  tubercular  sputum- 
dried,  pulverized,  and  floating  in  the  air,  is  the  most 
important  source  of  infection."  Again,  "The  attempt 
to  affect  guinea  pigs,  animals  I  would  say  a  hundred 
times  as  susceptible  to  the  inoculated  germ  as  man  is, 
by  making  them  breathe  air  suspensions  of  dried  tuber- 
cular germs  has  usually  failed,  after  being  tried  by 
many  investigators." 

First,  he  says  the  dried  sputum  floating  in  the  air 
is  the  most  common  source  of  infection.  Next  he  says 
that  guinea  pigs  cannot  be  so  infected,  although  they 
are  one  hundred  times  as  susceptible  as  man.  He  says, 
"I  have  never  seen  a  guinea  pig  with  a  self  acquired 
tuberculosis." 

All  health  boards  and  bacteriologists  claim  that  dried 
sputum  floating  through  the  air  is  the  most  common 
source  of  tubercular  infection.  Is  it?  Flugg  says, 
"As  a  result  of  a  long  series  of  experiments  made  by 
himself  and  his  pupils  during  the  last  two  years,  he  con- 


174  MICROBES    AXD   HEALTH. 

eludes  that  the  danger  of  infection  from  the  dried 
sputum  is  small." 

"Cornet  has  shown  that  among  street-sweepers  who 
follow  the  business  for  many  years,  tuberculosis  is  less 
common  than  among  other  classes/'  The  cities  are 
where  the  largest  number  of  people  expectorate  upon 
the  streets  and  sidewalks,  and  those  sweeping  and  clean- 
ing such  thoroughfares  would  be  subject  to  more 
danger,  if  any  existed,  than  any  other  class  of  people 
on  earth,  yet  the  professor  says,  "tuberculosis  is  less 
common  with  these  people."  The  professor  closes  by 
saying,  " According  to  the  Registrar  General  the  death- 
rate  from  consumption  in  England  and  Wales  was  in 
1838  thirty-eight  per  ten  thousand  of  the  population. 
In  1895  it  was  fourteen." 

"Note  that  during. this  period  of  fifty-seven  years  the 
population  had  more  than  doubled,  while  the  facilities 
for  travel  and  comingling  of  sick  and  well  had  been 
at  least  quadrupled,  that  during  the  larger  part  of  this 
time  no  attention  whatever  had  been  given  to  the 
thought  of  contagion,  no  isolation,  no  destruction  of 
sputum,  or  any  such  precautions;  that  despite  the  fact 
that  the  possibilities  for  infection  had  been  increased 
many  fold,  the  disease  had  decreased." 

Colorado  Springs  is  a  great  resort  for  consumptives, 
and  there  are  enough  germs  distributed  around  this 
place  to  infect  the  population  of  the  entire  earth,  yet 
the  disease  is  seldom,  if  ever,  acquired  there. 

An  article  in  the  Physician  and  Surgeon  for  Novem- 
ber, 1899,  states:  "There  is  no  doubt  that  the  germs 
of  consumption  are  with  us  always;  they  are  universally 


CONSUMPTION.  175 

distributed  wherever  man  lives  upon  this  earth.  I  be- 
lieve that  practically  we  come  in  contact  with  them 
daily." 

Experiments  with  the  consumptive  germs  are  usually 
made  with  guinea  pigs,  yet  guinea  pigs  can  be  rendered 
tubercular  as  well  without  the  consumptive  germ  as 
with  it.  They  can  be  rendered  tubercular  by  inoculat- 
ing them  with  vaccine  lymph,  putrid  muscles,  or  by  in- 
troducing a  clean  seaton  of  unbleached  cotton,  or  even 
by  giving  them  a  brisk  pinch  in  the  flank.  These  state- 
ments are  supported  by  many  leading  authorities. 
Green's  Pathology,  page  364,  states:  "That  tuber- 
culosis may  be  produced  in  animals  by  the  irritation 
of  vaccine,  bits  of  cork  or  paper.  Doctor  Evans  states 
that  by  making  incisions  in  pigs,  they  afterwards  per- 
ished of  abscess  at  the  seat  of  injury,  and  miliary  tuber- 
culosis in  their  various  organs." 

Now  apply  the  teaching  of  health  boards  and  other 
bacteriologists. 

The  Philadelphia  Board  of  Health  states  that  "all 
cases  of  tuberculosis  of  the  lungs  take  origin  directly 
or  indirectly  from  other  cases.  This  is  now  an  estab- 
lished fact." 

The  New  York  Board  of  Health  states  that  "con- 
sumption is  a  disease  of  the  lungs  which  is  taken  from 
others;  and  is  caused  by  germs." 

The  Michigan  Board  of  Health  states  that  "con- 
sumption is  a  dangerous  communicable  disease,  and  is 
caused  by  germs." 

In  the  Physician  and  Surgeon  for  November,  1899. 
is  an  article  stating:  "There  is  no  longer  any  dispute 


176  MICROBES   AND   HEALTH. 

as  to  the  cause  of  consumption.  Scientists  are  agreed 
that  the  consumptive  germ  is  the  ultimate  cause  of  all 
so  called  tubercular  processes/' 

Have  the  health  boards  stated  the  case  fairly,  or  have 
we  clearly  shown  by  some  of  the  greatest  living  author- 
ities that  such  statements  are  not  true  ?  Since  the  germ 
theory  has  become  so  popular,  a  leading  medical  college 
has  made  the  remarkable  discovery  that  it  requires 
seventeen  consumption  germs  to  produce  the  disease  in 
a  healthy  subject. 

In  a  healthy  subject!  And  so  germs  can  produce 
disease  in  a  healthy  subject,  yet  the  population  of  the 
United  States  has  increased  from  the  first  settlement 
in  Virginia  from  one  hundred  to  about  ninety  millions 
at  the  present  time.  Instead  of  advertising  themselves 
through  the  newspapers  and  by  circular;  instead  of 
trying  to  pass  laws  compelling  people  to  submit  to 
quarantine  regulations,  or  placing  the  consumptive  in 
some  hospital  already  filled  with  those  whose  pallid 
faces,  hollow  cough,  wasted  bodies  and  ghastly  looks 
meet  you  on  every  hand,  a  place  where  each  patient 
drags  out  his  remaining  days  in  one  long  nightmare 
of  despondency  and  disgust.  Instead  of  doing  this, 
why  don't  the  bacteriologists  come  out  squarely  and 
honestly  and  cure  just  one  case  of  consumption?  If 
they  could  cure  consumption  there  would  be  no  need 
of  laws  compelling  people  to  accept  their  treatment,  for 
all  who  suffer  with  the  disease  would  go  willingly  and 
gladly.  The  people  who  would  be  brought  under  the 
influence  of  quarantine  had  better  secure  an  appropria- 
tion for  educating  the  people  in  that  particular  com- 


CONSUMPTION.  177 

munity  or  state.  A  contagious  disease  is  one  that 
spreads  rapidly,  develops  in  a  few  days,  becomes  serious 
and  often  fatal.  Consumption  requires  months  and 
usually  years  to  develop,  and  this  fact  alone  is  sufficient 
to  oppose  all  thought  of  contagion,  quarantine  and  iso- 
lation. 

The  theory  of  contagion  is  but  the  dwarfed  and 
mangled  conclusions  of  laboratory  science. 

12 


TYPHOID  FEVER. 

A  student  was  called  before  his  class  to  examine  a 
case  of  suspected  typhoid  fever.  The  student  was 
somewhat  embarrassed,  and  this  may  have  accounted  for 
the  somewhat  remarkable  diagnosis,  which  ran  as  fol- 
lows: 

Case  one  (this  was  his  first  case).  Irish  parents 
age  24  not  hereditary,  brunette  tongue,  coated  and 
accustomed  to  working  out  by  the  day.  Was  suddenly 
seized  with  vertigo  of  the  head  in  the  occiput  near  the 
post-office,  no  temperature  though  inward  fever,  other 
functions  normal.  Case  diagnosed  as  dramatic  sprain 
of  the  main  leader  of  the  left  leg.  The  young  man 
wrote  the  following  prescription  on  the  blackboard. 
Cranberry  poultice,  veratroidine  and  milk  diet  to  the 
affected  part.  The  strain  was  too  much,  and  the  next 
day  the  professor  said  the  student  himself  was  threat- 
ened with  typhoid  fever,  because  he  had  heard  him 
talking  in  his  sleep,  and  at  times  singing  national  airs 
so  familiar  to  all.  The  writer  was  once  discharged  be- 
cause he  would  not  give  something  for  this  particular 
feature  of  a  case  (singing),  but  it  seemed  to  him  then 
and  does  now  that  if,  as  claimed  by  many,  Key  really 
wrote  the  "Star  Spangled  Banner'7  on  the  head  of  a 
barrel,  the  patient  had  a  right  to  whoop  ?er  up  if  he 
wanted  to.  The  professor  thought  the  student  \v,-i> 


TYPHOID   FEVEK.  179 

talking  about  his  relatives,  because  he  frequently  spoke 
of  his  "Ante,"  also  of  "Jack-pot"  (thought  Jack  was 
his  cousin),  heard  him  say  he  must  "stand  pat"  (another 
cousin).  The  professor  thought  these  three  relatives 
were  what  the  student  referred  to  when  he  spoke  of 
"three  of  a  kind;"  he  thought  the  student  was  a  very 
kind-hearted  boy,  because  he  heard  him  say  he  gave  his 
overcoat  to  his  "uncle,"  and  went  back  after  "Tom 
and  Jerry." 

We  understand  that  the  foregoing  does  not  bear 
a  very  close  relation  to  typhoid  fever,  yet  we  believe 
it  is  about  as  near  correct  as  many  of  the  cases  that  are 
diagnosed  typhoid.  The  writer  understands  that  he 
may  be  criticised  for  not  accepting  the  usual  diagnoses, 
yet  he  is  satisfied  that  in  many  cases,  perhaps  the 
majority,  such  diagnosis  is  not  correct.  This  conclu- 
sion is  reached  after  the  usual  experiences  with  cases 
of  this  kind,  and  after  proving  over  and  over  again 
that  such  cases  usually  make  a  complete  recovery  in  a 
few  days,  if  eliminations  have  been  thorough,  and  fol- 
lowed when  necessary  by  antiseptics  and  stringents. 

In  his  practice  of  medicine,  page  23,  the  well-known 
Dr.  Hughes  says,  regarding  typhoid  fever:  "An  error 
that  is  constantly  being  made  is  that  of  confounding 
typhoid  fever  with  the  typhoid  (depressing)  symptoms 
or  conditions  developing  during  the  course  of  many 
acute  diseases." 

We  understand  that  some  physicians  will  have  no 
patience  with  the  statement  that  they  do  not  know 
a  case  of  typhoid  fever  when  they  see  it,  yet  the 
very  nature  of  typhoid  fever  renders  a  diagnosis  ex- 


180  MICROBES   AND    HEALTH. 

tremely  difficult.  That  is  the  reason  the  bacteriologists 
established  the  Widal  test.  They  claim  the  disease  is 
caused  by  a  germ,  yet  it  is  well  known  that  in  one-half 
of  the  cases  they  are  unable  to  find  any  trace  of  their 
germs,  and  having  no  other  satisfactory  means  of  decid- 
ing, they  established  the  Widal  test,  called  the  Widal 
because  Mr.  Widal  first  wrote  an  article  calling  atten- 
tion to  its  importance.  Yet  the  test  possesses  but  lit- 
tle value.  As  there  is  much  difference  of  opinion  re- 
garding typhoid  fever,  let  us  take  an  imaginary  case: 
Is  it  typhoid  fever?  Sometimes  that  is  merely  a  mat- 
ter of  opinion,  and  each  physician  may  hold  a  different 
view.  A  few  years  ago  the  writer  was  acquainted  with 
a  doctor  who  had  twenty-one  cases  of  typhoid  f ever(  ?) 
on  his  hands  all  at  one  time.  That  was  pretty  hard 
on  the  doctor,  though  the  patients  bore  up  well,  as  all 
recovered.  Other  physicians  in  the  same  community 
did  not  have  any  typhoid  patients  at  this  time.  If  a 
typhoid  patient  lives  until  the  end  of  the  second  week 
there  will  be  ulceration  along  the  digestive  tract. 
There  may  be  ulceration  without  typhoid.  The  mucous 
membrane  lining  the  digestive  tract  contains  many 
small  glands  or  follicles.  These  are  small  thimble- 
shaped  depressions,  and  during  inflammation  these  fol- 
licles become  enlarged  as  the  swelling  and  pressure 
prevent  the  discharge  of  their  contents.  The  swelling 
and  pressure  also  interfere  with  the  circulation,  de- 
genative  changes  follow  from  a  lack  of  nourishment, 
portions  of  the  mucous  membrane  slough  off,  and  thus 
ulcers  are  formed.  Not  only  ulcers,  but  gangrene  may 
occur  if  the  inflammation  is  severe  enough,  yet  in  each 


TYPHOID   FEVER.  181 

of  these  cases  typhoid  fever  would  be  ahsent.  With 
typhoid  fever  there  is  bloating  and  soreness  along  the 
digestive  tract,  yet  everyone  understands  that  bloating 
and  soreness  can  and  usually  do  occur  without  typhoid. 
Can  constipation  exist  during  typhoid?  Some  physi- 
cians say  it  can,,  some  say  it  cannot,  yet  neither  verdict 
is  of  importance,  since  either  constipation  or  diarrhea 
may  and  usually  does  occur  without  typhoid.  Some 
doctors  consider  diarrhea  marked  evidence  of  typhoid 
fever  when  occurring  with  other  symptoms,  yet  there 
may  be  typhoid  symptoms  with  diarrhea,  and  no  ty- 
phoid. Because  first,  there  may  be  constipation;  this 
may  and  usually  does  produce  all  the  symptoms  of  ty- 
phoid fever.  The  constipation  allows  fermentation  to 
take  place  in  the  digestive  tract;  this  causes  irrita- 
tion which  may  stimulate  increased  activity  and  result 
in  diarrhea;  or  the  morbid  effects  of  constipation  may 
cause  paralysis  of  the  nerves  supplying  the  arteries 
along  the  digestive  tract;  this  would  allow  the  arteries 
to  dilate  and  discharge  large  quantities  of  water,  which 
would  cause  diarrhea  of  a  typical  typhoid  variety,  yet 
there  would  be  no  typhoid.  The  word  typhoid  means 
stupor,  therefore,  strictly  speaking,  any  condition  of 
stupor  where  fever  is  present  may  be  called  typhoid, 
and  some  doctors  do  apply  the  term  to  many  low  condi- 
tions where  fever  is  present.  Bacteriologists  claim  that 
typhoid  fever  is  caused  by  a  certain  specific  germ,  yet 
all  the  symptoms  and  even  the  ulceration  may  occur 
without  their  germ.  Suppose  the  bacteriologist  is 
called  and  he  pronounces  the  case  typhoid  fever,  and 
to  make  assurance  doubly  sure,  he  takes  his  microscope 


182  MICROBES   AND    HEALTH. 

and  finds  the  so  called  typhoid  germ.  Does  that  prove 
it  is  typhoid,  or  that  it  was  caused  by  a  germ?  No, 
bacteriology  itself  proves  that  germs  do  not  cause  ty- 
phoid fever,  for  they  tell  us  that  the  germ  is  only  pres- 
ent in  one-half  the  number  of  cases,  even  their  leader, 
Dr.  Koch,  is  only  able  to  find  the  germ  in  fifty  per  cent 
of  cases. 

Bacteriologists  know  this  to  be  true.  Green's  Path- 
ology, page  326,  states  that  the  great  germ-theorist, 
Koch,  "demonstrated  the  presence  of  the  germ  in  one- 
half  the  cases  examined  by  him."  The  same  page 
states:  "A  very  important  paper  by  Gaffky  appeared 
in  1884.  He  started  with  the  observation  that  the 
germ  had  been  found  in  only  one-half  the  cases 
examined." 

What  caused  the  disease  in  the  other  half  ?  Bacter- 
iologists give  the  following  definition  of  doubtful 
cases,  in  fact  it  is  taught  by  bacteriologists  in  one  of 
the  leading  medical  colleges:  "An  infectious  disease 
is  one  in  which  a  pathogenic  germ  enters  the  body; 
germs  grow,  multiply  and  produce  poisons  which  di- 
rectly cause  disease,  hence  no  disease  is  infectious 
that  is  not  a  germ-disease,  therefore  every  infecti- 
ous disease  points  directly  to  a  germ,  whether  the  germ 
has  been  found  or  not/' 

Does  this  prove  that  disease  is  caused  by  a  germ? 

Win.  F.  Waugh,  A.  M.,  M.  D.,  known  at  home  and 
abroad  for  his  penetration  of  thought  and  practical 
knowledge,  says  in  his  "Treatment  of  the  Sick,"  page 
417:  "Ordinarily  the  inoculation  of  animals  with  the 
typhoid  germ  fails  to  produce  an  analogous  disease." 


TYPHOID   FEVER.  183 

In  other  words,  inject  the  germ  into  the  body  and  there 
will  be  no  result. 

Evidently  the  bacteriologists  are  not  satisfied  with 
their  definition  of  disease,  and  after  much  labor  have 
prepared  the  Widal  test.  Knowing  that  some  consider 
this  test  of  little  value,  and  to  aid  in  arriving  at  the 
truth,  the  author  addressed  six  letters  to  six  leading 
bacteriologists,  inquiring  wherein  the  test  is  weak. 
The  answers  contain  the  following  quotations:  One 
says :  "The  test  must  be  made  at  a  certain  time,  or  no 
Widal  reaction  will  take  place."  Another  says :  "The 
Widal  reaction  is  weak  because  its  characteristic  reac- 
tion is  not  produced  until  late  in  the  disease,  generally 
from  the  tenth  to  the  twelfth  day."  Another  says: 
"The  value  of  the  Widal  test  is  disputed  by  some,  for 
the  reason  that  the  blood  of  patients  other  than  typhoid 
gives  the  same  reaction,  unless  certain  precautions  are 
taken."  The  foregoing  answers  were  included  in  per- 
sonal letters. 

The  New  York  Board  of  Health  replied  by  printed 
circular,  from  which  the  following  quotations  are 
taken : 

"The  blood  of  persons  suffering  from  or  having  re- 
cently had  tjrphoid  fever,  contains,  as  a  rule,  after  the 
fifth  day  of  the  disease,  certain  substances,  etc."  The 
circular  also  states  that:  "It  has  been  shown  that 
occasionally  the  blood  of  persons  suffering  from  other 
diseases  possesses  this  peculiar  property."  Again  the 
circular  states :  "These  substances,  are  also  occasion- 
ally present  in  small  amounts  in  other  diseases  and 
even  in  health."  Again,  "If  the  blood  contains  the 


184  MICROBES   AND   HEALTH. 

substance  in  sufficient  amount  to  cause  prompt  and 
marked  reaction,  the  presence  of  a  previous  or  existing 
typhoid  infection  may  be  considered  extremely  prob- 
able." Other  requirements  are  named  and  the  circular 
states,  if  these  are  met:  "The  presence  of  a  previous 
or  existing  typhoid  infection  may,  for  diagnostic  pur- 
poses, be  practically  considered  as  established."  The 
circular  also  states:  "The  reaction  is  occasionally  ab- 
sent in  cases  of  typhoid  fever  until  the  third  or  fourth 
week,  or  even  until  convalescence  is  established." 

"Four  weeks,  or  until  convalescence!"  It  might  be 
interesting  to  know  at  what  time  convalescence  makes 
it  appearance  in  those  cases  treated  by  the  New  York 
Board  of  Health. 

In  another  place  the  circular  states :  "In  those  cases 
in  which  the  reaction  is  absent  after  the  ninth  day,  it 
may  be  reasonably  assumed  that  the  large  majority  will 
not  prove  to  be  typhoid  fever." 

In  a  paper  by  Dr.  D.  Murray  Cowie,  read  before  the 
Ann  Arbor  Medical  Club  (Michigan),  September  13, 
1899,  the  author  understands  Dr.  Cowie  to  say,  that 
the  Widal  reaction  may  occur  thirty-seven  years  after 
recovery  from  typhoid  fever. 

On  the  New  York  circular  there  is  printed  in  large 
type :  "Circular  of  information."  Is  it  ?  It  says  "as 
a  rule"  the  blood  of  typhoid  patients  between  the  fifth 
day  and  the  third  or  fourth  week,  or  until  convalescence, 
contains  a  certain  substance  which  gives  the  Widal  test. 
It  also  says  the  blood  of  persons  suffering  from  other 
diseases,  and  even  those  in  health,  may  possess  the  same 
properties  as  that  of  the  typhoid  fever  patient.  Again, 


TYPHOID   FEVEK.  185 

"It  is  extremely  probable/'  or  "the  presence  of  a  previ- 
ous or  existing  typhoid  infection  may,  for  diagnostic 
purposes,  be  practically  considered  as  established." 
"May  be  reasonably  assumed/'  so  and  so.  Dr.  Cowie's 
paper  says  thirty-seven  years  after  the  disease. 

If  obliged  to  depend  on  the  Widal  test,  can  the  bac- 
teriologists decide  whether  a  suspected  case  is  or  is  not 
typhoid  fever?  It  would  seem  as  though  Mrs.  Mary 
Moss  Baker  Glover  Patterson  G-.  Eddy  was  correct  when 
she  said :  "The  nothingness  of  nothing  is  plain." 

What  a  contrast  it  would  be  for  bacteriology  to 
make  a  clear  positive  statement,  just  one.  Something 
it  has  never  yet  done.  Why?  Simply  because  they 
are  dealing  with  theory.  Admitting  that  there  may 
be  some  value  in  the  Widal  test,  the  fact  still  remains 
that  the  test  or  reaction  does  not  generally  take  place 
until  about  two  weeks  after  the  disease  is  established. 
Who  is  satisfied  to  wait  two  weeks? 

H  elimination  has  been  thorough  and  antiseptics 
have  been  given  in  sufficiently  large  doses,  in  most  cases 
prompt  recovery  will  follow  in  a  few  days.  The  writer 
knows  this  from  experience.  The  reason  is  that  in 
most  cases  typhoid  is  not  present,  and  if  it  were,  the 
above  treatment,  with  proper  hygienic  surroundings, 
would  cut  most  cases  short. 

Take  a  case  of  genuine  typhoid  fever,  the  bacteriolo- 
gist takes  a  drop  of  water  from  the  well,  places  it  under 
the  microscope,  and  finds  it  loaded  with  germs.  Does 
that  prove  the  germs  caused  the  disease  ?  No ;  it  only 
proves  that  the  water  was  full  of  decomposing  matter 
which  furnished  a  medium  or  food  upon  which  germs 


186  MICROBES    AND    HEALTH. 

could  thrive.  It  was  such  decomposing  material  gen- 
erated within  the  patient  that  poisoned  the  system  and 
produced  the  disease. 

Collins  H.  Johnson,  B.  A.,  M.  D.,  bacteriologist  and 
member  of  the  Michigan  State  Board  of  Health,  says 
in  a  recent  published  letter:  "Many  epidemics  of  ty- 
phoid fever,  due  to  the  domestic  use  of  polluted  water, 
are  now  on  record,  and  while  typhoid  germs  have  rarely 
been  discovered  in  such  water,  the  fact  of  the  trans- 
mission of  the  disease  in  this  manner  is  absolutely  con- 
clusive." Is  such  a  statement  probably  true,  or  does 
it  contradict  itself?  Dr.  Johnson  next  speaks  of  the 
manner  of  proving  the  presence  of  the  germ  in  sus- 
pected water,  and  adds :  "This  is  a  tedious  and  difficult 
process  and  is  not  regularly  carried  out  by  any  of  the 
State  Boards  of  Health  of  the  various  cities.  In  only 
a  very  few  well  authenticated  instances  have  typhoid 
germs  been  isolated  from  contaminated  water." 

The  bacteriologists  tell  us  that  epidemics  of  typhoid 
fever  are  caused  by  germs?  Yes.  That  water  is  the 
medium  by  which  the  germs  are  carried  into  the  system  ? 
Yes.  That  such  germs  have  "rarely  been  discovered  in 
such  water  ?"  Yes.  That  boards  -of  health  of  the  vari- 
ous cities  seldom  look  for  typhoid  fever  germs?  Yes. 
And  "in  only  a  very  few  instances  have  typhoid  germs 
been  isolated  from  suspected  water  ?"  Yes.  Yet  "the 
facts  of  the  transmission  of  the  disease  in  this  manner 
are  absolutely  conclusive  ?"  Yes.  Let  a  man  give  such 
conflicting  evidence  upon  any  other  subject  and  he 
would  be  called  insane.  Such  evidence  will  not  carry 


TYPHOID   FEVER.  187 

conviction,  but  such  statements  will  hasten  the  day 
when  the  germ  theories  will  he  relegated  to  the  past 
as  they  surely  will  he.  Are  there  any  morbid  changes 
that  are  always  present  in  typhoid?  Yes;  tender- 
ness along  the  digestive  tract,  and  ulceratioii  of 
what  are  called  Peyer's  patches;  yet,  as  already  stated, 
tenderness  may  and  usually  does  occur  without  typhoid, 
and  ulceration  of  Peyer's  patches  can  only  he  proven  "by 
a  post  mortem  examination. 

Scattered  throughout  the  small  howel  are  numerous 
small  glands.  They  are  placed  in  the  mucous  mem- 
brane; have  no  excretory  ducts,  and  their  use  is  said 
to  be  unknown.  Yet  they  undoubtedly  aid  in  diges- 
tion, as  they  are  largest  or  most  developed  during  the 
digestive  period.  In  places  these  glands  are  clustered 
together,  forming  little  groups.  These  groups  are 
called  Peyer's  patches,  because  first  described  by  Dr. 
Peyer.  There  are  from  twenty  to  thirty  Nof  these 
groups,  varying  from  one-half  inch  in  width  to  three, 
four  or  more  inches  in  length. 

The  mucous  membrane  covering  them  is  highly  vas- 
cular; i.  e.,  abundantly  supplied  with  blood  vessels. 
The  normal  blood  supply  being  greater  than  in  the  sur- 
rounding mucous  membrane,  the  inflammation  is  more 
intense,  therefore  a  good  field  for  degenerative  changes, 
ulceration,  etc.,  and  that  is  the  reason  ulceration  oc- 
curs at  these  particular  points. 

Ulceration  of  Peyer's  patches  is  understood  by  phy- 
sicians everywhere  to  mean  typhoid  fever.  Without 
such  ulceration  it  is  not  typhoid  fever.  Post  mortem 


188  MICROBES   AND   HEALTH. 

examinations  would  undoubtedly  prove  that  the  glands 
in  question  are  not  often  invaded,  and  that  but  few 
cases  of  typhoid  fever  actually  exist. 

Can  typhoid  occur  the  second  time?  Not  if  all  the 
glands  are  invaded  by  the  first  attack,  because  every 
gland  that  is  invaded  is  destroyed  and  is  not  replaced, 
therefore  there  could  be  no  second  invasion.  The 
glands  are  not  often  all  invaded  at  one  time. 

If  there  has  been  a  case  of  general  sepsis  or  poison- 
ing along  the  digestive  tract,  and  it  changes  to  typhoid ; 
i.  e.,  Peyer's  patches  become  invaded,  are  there  any 
signs  or  symptoms  by  which  the  doctor  may  know  posi- 
tively that  such  change  has  taken  place?  No,  he  can 
only  judge  from  the  mass  of  evidence.  General  intes- 
tinal sepsis  can  and  does  give  all  the  symptoms  of  ty- 
phoid fever,  and  every  doctor  of  experience  understands 
that  many  cases  of  auto  or  self-infection,  with  a  catar- 
rhal  condition  of  the  stomach  and  digestive  tract,  and 
insufficient  liver-action,  may  be  and  often  are  taken 
for  typhoid  fever.  And  some  day  people  will  wake  up 
to  the  fact  that  typhoid  fever  depends  upon  intestinal 
sepsis  that  has  existed  for  weeks  and  probably  months 
before  the  disease  gained  a  foothold.  If  this  general 
septic  condition  is  relieved  there  will  be  no  disease. 

The  author  knows  from  experience  that  the  ordinary 
«ase  of  what  may  be  called  typhoid  fever  can  be  cured 
promptly  by  thorough  elimination  and  disinfection. 
It  is  no  more  or  less  than  a  low  form  of  fever  which 
has  been  brought  on  by  the  gradual  absorption  of  many 
poisons  from  the  digestive  tract.  Or  some  of  the  poi- 
sons may  have  crept  into  vthe  system  from  unhealthy 


TYPHOID    FEVER.  1891 

surroundings,  as  old  cellars,  decomposing  vegetable 
matter,  water  containing  decomposing  matter,  bad 
drainage,  poor  ventilation,  etc.  These  conditions  are 
responsible  for  many  cases  of  prolonged  sickness. 

The  patient  may  be  pale,  emaciated  and  weak,  with 
more  or  less  bloating  and  soreness  along  the  digestive 
tract.  In  some  cases  the  soreness  or  over  sensitive- 
ness is  not  confined  to  any  particular  part,  but  is  pres- 
ent more  or  less  in  all  parts  of  the  body.  All  of  these 
conditions  are  accompanied  by  a  fever,  and  sometimes 
night-sweats. 

The  conditions  just  enumerated  are  not  only  the 
cause  of  typhoid  fever,  but  of  consumption  also.  There 
may  be  curvature  of  the  spine  caused  by  weak  muscles, 
relaxed  ligaments,  and  lying  too  long  in  one  position. 

In  all  of  these  conditions  there  is  a  low  form  of  in- 
flammation along  the  mucous  membrane  lining  the 
digestive  tract,  and  if  the  inflammation  is  severe  enough 
there  will  be  degenerative  changes  in  Peyer's  glands. 
It  has  been  stated  that  when  Peyer's  glands  are  invaded 
they  are  destroyed,  and  that  when  they  are  all  de- 
stroyed typhoid  fever  cannot  occur  again.  That  is 
true,  yet  the  same  unhealthy  condition  may  occur 
again,  and  each  time  the  symptoms  of  typhoid  fever 
will  be  present. 

If  the  digestive  tract  was  kept  in  a  healthy  condi- 
tion typhoid  fever  would  be  a  thing  unknown.  So 
would  nearly  all  other  forms  of  disease,  for  the  pri- 
mary cause  is  indigestion,  followed  by  a  lack  of  nour- 
ishment, a  lowering  of  the  vital  forces,  the  gradual 
accumulation  of  poisons  in  the  system,  etc. 


190  MICROBES   AND    HEALTH. 

Is  typhoid  fever  catching  ?  A  man  eats  too  much  or 
too  fast,  works  too  hard  or  not  enough,  or  indulges  in 
some  form  of  excess ;  digestion  is  interfered  with,  elimi- 
nation is  checked,  degenerative  changes  follow,  the  sys- 
tem becomes  saturated  with  self-generated  poisons,  vi- 
tality is  lowered,  the  powers  of  resistance  are  reduced 
to  a  minimum,  the  septic  blood  courses  through  the 
body  producing  irritation  and  inflammation;  disease 
follows.  It  may  be  located  in  the  digestive  tract  as 
in  typhoid  fever,  in  the  lungs  as  in  consumption,  in  the 
liver,  kidneys,  heart,  brain  or  elsewhere. 

Typhoid  fever  is  not  catching,  but  depends  upon  a 
long  train  of  the  conditions  just  enumerated.  The  pa- 
tient has  overstepped  the  limit  of  safety  and  now  na- 
ture is  demanding  her  rights.  First,  digestion  was  poor 
from  some  cause,  the  blood  contained  many  impurities, 
so  did  the  digestive  tract,  and  gradually  the  system  was 
brought  under  the  influence  of  putrefactive  changes. 
The  nervous  system  became  more  or  less  paralyzed. 
Sometimes  one  kind  of  poison  is  generated  and  some- 
times another,  according  to  the  surroundings,  kind  of 
food  taken,  etc.,  and  by  reason  of  the  different  poisons, 
it  follows  that  sometimes  one  organ  is  affected  and 
sometimes  another. 

The  same  is  true  with  other  poisons,  strychnine,  mor- 
phine, aconite,  etc.,  used  in  medicine.  First,  there  is 
congestion,  then  inflammation,  and  if  severe  enough 
some  cells  or  tissues  die  from  lack  of  nourishment,  if  in 
the  lungs  it  is  consumption,  if  in  the  kidneys  it  is 
Bright's  disease,  if  in  the  liver  it  is  liver  abscess,  if 
in  the  digestive  tract  it  may  be  in  Peyer's  patches  as 


TYPHOID    FEVER.  191 

in  typhoid  fever,  or  abscess  of  the  appendix  as  in  ap- 
pendicitis. 

What  have  germs  had  to  do  with  producing  these  dis- 
eases? Nothing;  absolutely  nothing.  After  disease  is 
established  germs  are  present,  of  course.  This  is  ac- 
cording to  a  universal  law.  Wherever  there  is  dead 
tissue,  or  any  other  form  of  dead  matter,  germs  are 
always  present  to  reduce  it  to  simpler  forms — to  separ- 
ate the  elements  or  component  parts  and  give  them 
back  to  nature,  thus  permitting  them  to  aid  in  the 
formation  of  something  new. 

As  stated  elsewhere,  it  is  by  this  plan  the  Divine 
Intelligence  carries  on  the  world's  economy.  Every- 
one understands  that  the  dead  support  the  living,  but 
first  the  elements  of  the  dead  must  be  separated  and 
given  back  to  nature's  laboratory.  This  change  is 
called  fermentation  or  putrefaction,  and  can  only 
take  place  with  the  aid  of  a  ferment.  Nature  has 
designed  that  germs  shall  act  as  the  ferment,  hence 
their  universal  presence.  Earth,  air  and  water  are 
swarming  with  them,  and  during  disease  they  also 
inhabit  that  part  of  the  system  that  is  affected. 

Pepsin  of  the  stomach  digests  albumin;  i.  e.,  converts 
into  other  substances.  So  also  when  tissue  is  de- 
stroyed by  disease,  the  presence  of  germs  converts  such 
tissue  into  other  substances,  some  into  gases,  some  into 
pus.  This  aids  in  elimination  and  in  relieving  the  sys- 
tem. Could  not  the  dead  tissue  have  been  removed 
without  the  presence  of  germs?  No.  Even  the  bac- 
teriologists teach  this,  as  shown  by  the  following  words, 
iound  on  page  270,  Green's  Pathology:  "All  the  pro- 


192  MICROBES   AND   HEALTH. 

cesses  comprised  in  the  terms  fermentation  and  putre- 
faction are  due  to  the  action  of  vegetable  organisms." 

The  results  just  described  are  perfectly  natural. 
Thousands  of  times  before,  germs  have  been  present 
in  this  same  system,  but  there  was  no  disease,  and  the 
germs  were  promptly  destroyed  by  the  fluids  of  the 
stomach  or  other  secretions  of  the  body;  and,  even 
when  typhoid  fever  is  present  the  fluids  of  the  stomach 
may  still  destroy  the  so  called  typhoid  germ,  and  that 
is  the  reason  there  are  so  many  cases  of  typhoid  fever 
where  this  particular  germ  is  absent. 

That  is  the  reason  Koch,  Gaffky  and  others  men- 
tioned can  find  the  germ  in  only  one-half  the  cases 
they  examine.  There  were  other  germs  present,  how- 
ever, and  they  decomposed  the  dead  tissue  and  formed 
the  ulcers  in  Peyer's  glands. 

Self-infection  from  the  digestive  tract  may  give  the 
symptoms  of  typhoid  fever  so  closely  that  it  is  impos- 
sible to  decide,  yet  sometimes  we  meet  those  who,  upon 
entering  the  house,  and  before  seeing  the  patient,  ex- 
claim: "Typhoid  fever!"  In  the  minds  of  some  this 
is  an  exhibition  of  remarkable  intelligence.  After  that 
it  is  typhoid  fever,  of  course,  and  the  case  is  treated 
accordingly. 

Say  to  a  man:  You  look  sick.  You  are  threatened 
with  nervous  prostration,  or:  You  are  going  to  have 
a  run  of  the  fever,  and  you  may  have  a  very  sick  pa- 
tient on  your  hands.  That  is  blind  submission,  and 
causes  bodily  suffering  or  increases  it,  by  admitting  its 
reality.  Instruct  the  same  patient  to  meet  the  ap- 


TYPHOID    FEVER.  193 

preaching  symptoms  with  all  the  strength  of  intelli- 
gent manhood  and  note  the  contrast. 

"Had  Blondin  thought  it  impossible  to  walk  a  rope 
over  Niagara's  abyss  of  waters,  he  could  not  have  done 
it;  his  belief  gave  him  the  victory." 

The  doctor  who  tells  the  plain  unvarnished  truth  will 
often  lose  his  patient,  because  people  like  to  be  humored 
in  their  ideas  of  sickness.  That  is  true,  yet  it  is  not 
necessary  to  say  to  a  man:  "You  have  typhoid  fever 
and  must  lie  here  four  weeks,"  or  "until  convales- 
cence ;"  neither  is  it  necessary  to  surround  yourself  with 
an  air  of  superior(?)  knowledge,  by  saying  that  this 
disease  is  caused  by  the  fundamental  thesis  of  the 
chemical  products  of  dissociation  which  combine  to 
operate  against  the  organic  functions.  This  over- 
balances the  conditions  of  the  organic  membrane,  in 
proportion  to  the  osmotic  fluids  of  the  body  and  disease 
follows.  If  the  hydrolitic  effects  of  the  inverting 
enzyms  upon  the  carbohydrates  now  in  the  system, 
aid  in  supporting  the  patient  until  the  physiological 
relations  between  the  two  are  equalized,  then  the  intra- 
organic  oxydation  of  the  proteids  will  be  absorbed  by 
the  semi-permeability  of  cell-protoplasm  and  recovery 
will  follow. 

The  doctor  is  losing  his  usefulness  when  he  fails  to 
fully  instruct  the  patient  or  others  in  such  language 
as  may  be  easily  understood. 

13 


THE  NON-CONTAGIOUS  DISEASES. 

Barring  accident,  injury  or  abnormal  development, 
this  form  of  disease  is  but  the  result  of  some  disturbance 
of  the  digestive  organs. 

The  different  diseases  are  but  different  expressions 
of  one  cause,  namely,  auto  or  self-infection.  I  know 
there  are  many  who  do  not  agree  with  this  statement, 
not  yet,  but  gradually  they  are  being  converted  to  rea- 
son and  better  judgment.  Gradually  the  theorist  is 
letting  go  some  of  his  faith  in  germs  and  accepting  a 
more  reasonable  teaching. 

The  human  system  produces  enough  poison  in  twenty- 
four  to  thirty-six  hours  to  destroy  life  if  it  were  re- 
tained in  the  body.  This  poison  is  the  natural  waste 
and  worn-out  matter  which  in  health  is  eliminated  and 
replaced  by  the  food  that  we  eat.  Diseases  are  caused 
by  alcohol  or  tobacco,  by  improper  food,  by  rapid  eat- 
ing, by  eating  and  drinking  too  much,  by  too  much 
strong  tea  and  coffee,  by  late  suppers,  by  irregular  and 
careless  habits,  by  decayed  teeth,  by  a  lack  of  exercise 
and  fresh  air,  by  too  much  hard  work,  by  laziness, 
by  exposure,  by  improper  clothing,  or  by  some  form 
of  excess. 

All  realize  the  importance  of  eating,  but  the  neces- 
sity of  equal  elimination  is  but  imperfectly  appreciated. 

So  long  as  waste  and  repair  are  equal,  and  the  waste 


THE   NXW-COKTAGiOUS   DISEASES.  195 

is  eliminated  as  fast  as  produced,  health  is  the  result; 
but  when  the  equilibrium  is  disturbed,  disease  is  the 
result.  It  is  understood,  of  course,  that  there  may  be 
a  natural  increase,  or  decrease ;  i.  e.,  should  a  man  com- 
mence the  blacksmith's  or  the  carpenter's  trade,  there 
would  be  an  increase  in  the  size  of  the  muscles  of  the 
arm  using  the  hammer  or  the  saw ;  should  he  change  his 
occupation  there  might  be  a  decrease  in  the  size  of  the 
same  muscles.  In  the  first  instance  there  would  be  an 
excess  of  growth  over  waste,  and  in  the  second  an  excess 
of  waste  over  growth,  yet  neither  would  indicate  dis- 
ease. 

When  the  blood  is  poor  and  the  circulation  sluggish, 
the  little  cells  and  tissues  of  the  body  lose  their  vitality 
from  a  lack  of  nourishment,  and  it  is  this  condition  that 
opens  the  door  to  disease. 

It  is  estimated  that  the  network  of  blood  vessels 
which  envelop  the  body,  and  which  lie  just  beneath 
the  skin,  are  capable  of  holding  one-half  the  blood  in 
the  system.  This  is  evidence  that  nature  has  designed 
free  peripheral  circulation. 

In  health  the  average  amount  eliminated  through 
the  skin  is  about  twenty-four  ounces  in  twenty-four 
hours.  This  watery  exudate  contains  from  two  to  four 
per  cent  of  solid  matter.  Should  a  part  of  this  be  re- 
tained in  the  system,  it  would  act  as  an  irritant  or  poi- 
son, and  produce  a  low  form  of  inflammation  or  disease. 
Should  all  be  retained  it  would  produce  death. 

Cold  stimulates  the  nerves  supplying  the  sweat- 
glands  and  the  peripheral  vessels,  and  they  contract. 
.This  locks  up  the  secretions  and  causes  congestion  of  the 


196  MICROBES   AND    HEALTH. 

internal  organs,  and  digestion  is  interfered  with.  This 
increases  the  waste  and  irritating  substances.  This 
condition  usually  results  from  improper  food,  rapid 
eating,  etc.,  as  already  stated. 

Elimination  relieves  congestion  and  inflammation, 
causes  free  circulation,  flushes  the  capillaries  or  small 
blood  vessels,  carries  away  waste,  restores  normal  re- 
sistance to  external  influences,  and  thus  wards  off  dis- 
ease. 

Digestion,  assimilation  and  elimination,  are  the  foun- 
dation stones  of  life  and  health. 

Disease  is  an  indication  that  waste  and  poisonous 
matter  is  retained  in  the  system  and  must  be  removed 
before  permanent  improvement  can  be  hoped  for.  If 
two  pounds  of  food  are  taken  into  the  system,  two 
pounds  of  waste  must  be  eliminated,  or  the  health  will 
suffer. 

When  elimination  is  checked,  the  waste  blocks  the 
circulation,  causing  congestion,  first  in  those  organs 
doing  the  most  work,  because  they  produce  the  most 
waste.  With  poor  digestion,  faulty  elimination,  and  a 
lack  of  nourishment  which  must  follow,  the  whole  sys- 
tem is  weakened  and  depressed,  and  there  may  result 
chronic  bronchitis,  pneumonia,  consumption,  rheuma- 
tism, disease  of  the  heart,  brain  and  spinal  cord, 
Bright's  disease,  or  any  other  ailment.  Some  being 
liable  to  one  and  some  to  another,  according  to  their 
several  powers  of  resistance. 

Dyspepsia  is  usually  accompanied  by  constipation. 
Following  this  comes  degenerative  changes  in  the  diges- 
tive tract  and  the  production  of  poisons,  some  of  which 


THE   NOtf-CO^TAGIOUS    DISEASES.  197 

enter  the  circulation,  and  gradually  the  individual  is 
overcome.  The  nervous  system  is  bathed  with  impuri- 
ties and  loses  its  sensitiveness  and  power  to  control, 
the  brain  becomes  clouded  and  dull,  a  sense  of  languor 
and  indisposition  pervades  the  whole  being,  the  activity 
of  the  tissues  or  cells  is  diminished,  their  power  to  select 
nourishment  is  lessened,  the  blood  lacks  the  normal 
elements,  and  the  most  shattered  state  of  the  vital 
forces  exists.  Ambition  and  energy  are  gone,  and  that 
"tired  feeling,"  so  dear  to  the  patent-medicine  shark, 
takes  possession.  This  condition  may  exist  for  months 
in  a  mild  form,  the  individual  keeping  about  his  work, 
or  may  explode  suddenly,  producing  great  prostration. 

The  trouble  usually  commences  in  the  stomach.  The 
irritation  paralyzes  more  or  less  the  delicate  nerves 
supplying  the  blood  vessels.  They  lose  control,  the 
vessels  dilate  and  too  much  blood  is  the  result.  The 
mucous  membrane  lining  the  stomach  is  thickened  and 
swollen,  the  digestive  fluid  becomes  changed  in  quality^ 
it  lacks  the  digestive  power,  and  the  secretions  become 
thick  and  tenacious,  the  result  of  catarrh  of  the  stom- 
ach. 

•  The  septic  condition  of  the  digestive  tract  may  result 
in  appendicitis,  typhoid  fever,  or  peritonitis.  It  may 
cause  chronic  catarrh,  tuberculosis,  or  cancer  of  the 
stomach.  Tuberculosis  of  the  digestive  tract  in  adults 
rarely  occurs  unless  other  parts  of  the  body  are  invaded 
first. 

In  nearly  all  cases  of  fatal  chronic  diseases  of  the 
heart,  brain,  lungs,  kidneys,  rheumatism,  etc.,  we  are 
told  that  a  careful  examination  of  the  mucous  mem- 


198  MICROBES  AND  HEALTH. 

brane  of  the  digestive  tract  will  show  numerous  traces 
of  disease,  inflammatory  thickening  and  ulceration.  In 
many  instances  the  mucous  membrane  of  the  stomach 
is  found  detached,  leaving  the  inner  surface  of  the 
organ  raw  and  granular.  Many  of  the  glands  that  fur- 
nish the  digestive  fluids  are  narrowed  or  destroyed. 
The  ducts  which  convey  the  bile  and  pancreatic  fluids 
are  often  contracted  and  thickened.  This  prevents, 
more  or  less,  the  flow  of  these  fluids,  and  digestion  suf- 
fers in  proportion. 

In  health  the  higher  forms  of  digestion  are  carried 
on  in  the  circulation,  but  with  the  condition  described 
such  digestive  changes  do  not  take  place,  or  rather  the 
change  in  the  digestive  organs  and  fluids  permits  an 
ever-increasing  amount  of  waste  to  enter  the  circula- 
tion, and  these  irritating  substances  result  in  a  low 
form  of  inflammation. 

The  bile-duct  opens  into  the  digestive  tract  three 
and  one-half  inches  below  the  stomach.  During  con- 
gestion or  chronic  inflammation  from  septic  blood,  this 
duct  may  become  closed,  obstructing  the  flow  of  bile, 
which  now  seeks  other  means  of  escape,  some  passing 
out  through  the  skin,  producing  its  characteristic  color 
called  jaundice.  This  condition  is  also  indicated  by  a 
bitter  taste  in  the  mouth. 

With  fermentation  in  the  stomach  the  taste  is  sour, 
because  the  stomach  produces  acids. 

The  return  circulation  from  the  digestive  tract  passes 
through  the  liver,  hence  any  poisons  resulting  from 
poor  digestion  are  carried  direct  to  this  organ,  and  re- 


THE   NON-CONTAGIOUS   DISEASES.  199 

suit  in  inflammation  and  enlargement,  or  may  be  fol- 
lowed by  liver  abscess,  fatty  degeneration,  cancer,  etc. 
The  kidneys  are  small  organs,  yet  they  contain  a  com- 
paratively large  amount  of  blood,  hence  poor  digestion 
and  a  disordered  system  may  produce  a  low  form  of 
inflammation  and  Bright's  disease. 

Passing  through  the  circulatory  system  the  septic 
blood  affects  the  arteries,  producing  chronic  inflamma- 
tion. The  arteries  first  thicken  and  then  become  soft 
and  flabby,  the  result  of  degenerative  changes.  The 
arteries  lose  their  elasticity,  and  there  results  a  lack  of 
nourishment  in  the  tissues  or  organs  supplied  by  the 
diseased  vessels,  or  the  vessels  may  rupture.  The  small 
arteries  are  most  liable  to  rupture,  as  they  are  thinner 
and  more  easily  destroyed.  A  blood-clot  may  form  at 
the  point  and  prevent  hemorrhage.  This  clot  is  called 
a  thrombus.  It  would  stop  the  circulation,  and  the 
part  or  tissues  supplied  by  this  artery  would  lack  nour- 
ishment, degenerate  and  soften,  or  an  abscess  may  form. 
If  in  the  stomach  it  would  cause  ulcer.  The  diseased 
arteries  may  gradually  narrow  without  a  blood-clot  un- 
til the  nutrition  is  so  far  shut  off  that  softening  may 
occur. 

Some  of  the  changes  in  the  arteries  are  naturally  the 
result  of  old  age,  yet  as  a  result  of  septic  blood  and  a 
disordered  system,  they  may  be,  and  are  frequently, 
met  in  the  young  and  those  of  middle  life.  Any  condi- 
tion that  interferes  with  digestion  or  lessens  oxidation 
may  produce  fatty  degeneration  of  the  heart,  kidneys, 
liver,  brain  or  other  organs. 


200  MICROBES    AND   HEALTH. 

Hiccough. 

The  diaphragm  is  a  thin  membrane  which  divides 
the  chest  from  the  abdominal  cavity,  and  aids  in  respir- 
ation, rising  and  falling  with  each  breath.  The  stom- 
ach is  placed  just  beneath  the  diaphragm.  The  dia- 
phragm passes  obliquely  backward  and  downward,  hence 
it  is  not  only  above  but  partially  behind  the  stomach. 

During  indigestion  the  stomach  may  become  very  ir- 
ritable and  sensitive.  The  constipation  which  follows 
causes  bloating  and  pressure  and  this  increases  the 
trouble.  The  stomach  is  forced  upwards  and  irritates 
the  diaphragm. 

The  solar  plexus  is  a  large  collection  of  nerves  situ- 
ated just  behind  the  stomach.  Irritation  may  be  com- 
municated through  this  bundle  of  nerves,  as  it  receives 
branches  from  both  the  stomach  and  diaphragm.  Any 
condition  which  stimulates  the  diaphragm  may  result 
in  hiccough,  as  the  mechanism  of  its  production  rests 
upon  the  contraction  of  the  diaphragm  downward. 
This  is  so  sudden  that  it  causes  a  vacuum  in  the  chest. 
The  outside  air  now  attempts  to  rush  into  the  lungs, 
but  is  prevented  by  the  sudden  closure  of  the  glottis, 
the  space  between  the  vocal  cords  through  which  the  air 
passes.  This  produces  the  peculiar  sound  known  as 
hiccough. 

Why  does  the  glottis  close  at  this  time  more  than 
during  ordinary  breathing?  Because  the  spasmodic 
action  of  the  diaphragm  against  the  stomach  causes 
spasm  of  this  organ  also,  and  the  same  nerve  which 
supplies  the  stomach  supplies  the  vocal  cords,  hence 


THE   KCW-COtfTAGIOUS    DISEASES.  201 

every  spasm  of  the  diaphragm  being  conveyed  to  the 
stomach  is  flashed  over  the  nerve-fibers  to  the  vocal 
cords  and  they  contract,  closing  the  space  between 
them. 

Hiccough  usually  stops  without  attention.  Some- 
times the  trouble  is  persistent  and  is  said  to  cause 
death.  Hiccough  never  causes  death.  It  is  only  a 
symptom.  It  is  the  septic  condition  of  the  digestive 
tract  that  causes  death.  Free  elimination  will  usually 
relieve  the  trouble. 

Hiccough  may  be  caused  by  inflammation  of  the 
upper  part  of  the  spinal  cord,  as  that  part  of  the  cord 
situated  in  the  neck  sends  out  the  nerves  which  pass 
downward  through  the  chest  cavity  and  supply  the 
diaphragm,  and  the  inflammation  might  so  irritate  and 
excite  these  nerves  as  to  cause  spasmodic  action,  as  de- 
scribed. 

A  tumor  in  the  lungs  may  cause  pressure  upon  these 
nerves  and  result  in  irritation  and  spasm.  The  same 
nerve  that  supplies  the  lungs  also  supplies  the  stomach, 
and  through  the  solar  plexus  communicates  with  the 
nerve  supplying  the  diaphragm;  hence  the  irritation 
from  a  tumor  in  any  part  of  the  lungs  may  cause  spasm 
and  hiccough. 

Hiccough  may  result  from  a  strangulated  hernia,  be- 
cause the  nerves  which  supply  the  digestive  tract  also 
communicate  with  the  solar  plexus  and  thus  with  the 
diaphragm. 

Peritonitis  or  inflammation  of  the  thin  membrane 
which  surrounds  the  digestive  tract  may  also  cause 
hiccough. 


202  MICROBES   AND   HEALTH. 

Glycosuria,  or  Diabetes  Mellitus. 

During  digestion  the  starch  contained  in  the  different 
food  products  is  converted  into  glucose  or  grape-sugar. 
This  is  absorbed  and  carried  by  the  veins  direct  to  the 
liver,  where  some  of  it  is  converted  into  a  substance 
called  glycogen,  and  this  is  stored  up  by  the  liver-cells 
and  delivered  to  the  circulation  as  the  system  requires. 
As  a  result  of  indigestion  and  lack  of  nourishment  the 
liver  may  become  unhealthy  and  unable  to  convert  the 
glucose  into  glycogen,  and  then  there  is  too  much  glu- 
cose or  grape-sugar  in  the  circulation. 

The  system  cannot  oxidize  so  much,  and  passing 
through  the  circulation  it  irritates  and  weakens  the 
kidneys,  until  some  of  it  finds  its  way  into  the  secreting 
tubes  and  is  eliminated. 

Primarily  this  is  called  glycosuria,  or  diabetes,  later  it 
produces  Bright's  disease. 

In  health  the  glucose  or  grape-sugar  is  oxidized ;  i.  e., 
unites  with  the  oxygen  from  the  air  we  breathe.  This 
produces  heat  and  aids  in  maintaining  the  bodily  tem- 
perature, but  the  system  cannot  oxidize  the  excessive 
amount  present  in  diabetes,  hence  its  appearance 
through  the  kidneys,  and  later  Bright's  disease. 

The  cause  of  glycosuria  has  never  been  given.  Medi- 
cal authors  have  charged  the  disease  to  the  liver,  kid- 
neys, pancreas,  brain,  "some  undiscovered  condition  of 
the  nervous  system/'  etc.  Undoubtedly  the  first  cause 
of  this  disease  is  found  in  the  lowering  effects  of  dys- 
pepsia and  retained  waste.  This  results  in  a  lack  of 
nourishment,  the  nervous  system  becomes  weakened 
and  irritated,  and  the  different  organs  cannot  properly 


THE   XOK-CCXNTAGIOUS    DISEASES.  203 

perform  their  work.  The  liver  is  unable  to  convert  the 
glucose  into  glycogen  and  too  much  grape-sugar  is  per- 
mitted to  circulate  through  the  system.  This  acts  as 
an  irritant  and  increases  the  trouble,  the  liver  becomes 
inflamed  and  disease  follows.  This  corresponds  to  the 
condition  of  the  liver,  for  it  is  inflamed  and  enlarged. 

A  diseased  stomach  irritates  the  heart  and  it  becomes 
weak  and  fluttering.  This  is  often  called  palpitation. 
The  sympathy  between  the  heart  and  stomach  is  close, 
because  the  same  nerve  supplies  both  organs.  A  dis- 
eased stomach  and  a  weak  heart  cause  a  feeble  circula- 
tion; a  feeble  circulation  lessens  the  lung-power,  breath- 
ing is  interfered  with,  less  oxygen  is  taken  into  the 
system,  the  red  corpuscles  (the  oxygen-carriers)  become 
pale  and  lose  their  vitalizing  influence,  less  carbonic 
acid  gas  is  exhaled,  the  lung-tissue  loses  its  vitality  and 
elasticity  from  a  lack  of  nourishment,  congestion  of  the 
lungs  follows,  producing  an  unhealthy  exudate  in  the 
air  tubes,  followed  by  more  or  less  cough  and  expectora- 
tion. This  is  bronchitis. 

With  a  feeble  circulation  the  skin  becomes  inactive 
and  fails  to  eliminate.  The  dense  network  of  vessels 
which  lie  just  beneath  the  skin  are  congested  and  the 
circulation  sluggish,  the  glands  in  the  skin  become  filled 
with  decomposing  matter  and  inflammation  and  exces- 
sive secretion  results  as  in  eczema,  dandruff,  and  other 
forms  of  skin  disease.  These  conditions  do  not  respond 
readily  to  treatment;  thus  proving  that  the  cause  is 
systemic.  Boils  and  carbuncles  are  produced  in  the 
same  way. 

Chronic  congestion  with  partial  loss  of  nerve-control 


204  MICROBES   AtfD   HEALTH. 

may  result  in  rapid  proliferation  of  morbid  or  diseased 
tissue  and  produce  cancer. 

Tumor. 

The  bacteriologists  would  have  us  believe 

That  cancer  is  caused  by  germs. 

They  tell  us  that  the  cancer-bug  feeds  on  human   flesh. 

The  schizomycetes  on  the  liver; 

While     the     actinomycosis     and     the    lockjaw    forces 

Send  their  victims  o'er  the  river. 

Cancers  are  sometimes  simply  termed  tumors.  A 
tumor  is  any  overgrowth,  or  abnormal  development. 
Inflammatory  swellings  are  sometimes  called  tumors. 
Tumors  are  deviations,  both  in  size  and  shape,  from  the 
normal  tissues  in  which  they  are  found.  Tumors  usu- 
ally possess  an  inherent  tendency  of  growth;  their 
growth  is  independent,  continuing  when  the  rest  of  the 
body  is  only  being  maintained  in  its  normal  type,  or 
while  the  tumor  is  growing  the  body  may  lose  in  weight. 
Those  tumors  which  end  fatally  are  called  malignant; 
those  which  are  not  destructive  to  life  being  called 
benign. 

One  of  the  leading  characteristics  of  a  malignant  tu- 
mor is  a  tendency  to  degenerate  and  destroy  the  ulti- 
mate elements  of  the  tissue  in  which  it  occurs.  Gen- 
erally speaking,  a  tumor  may  be  considered  cancerous 
(malignant)  when  it  infiltrates  or  invades  surrounding 
tissue,  when  it  invades  the  connecting  lymphatic  glands, 
when  it  is  attended  by  stinging  or  darting  pains,  or  by 
obstinate  and  slowly  extending  ulcerations,  when  occur- 
ring is  a  person  having  impaired  health,  and  not  trace- 
able to  any  known  cause.  People  who  brood  in  secret 


THE   NOK-CONTAGIOUS   DISEASES.  205> 

over  the  suspicion  of  a  cancer  subject  the  system  to 
lowering  tendencies,  which  render  them  more  liable  to 
other  diseases.  A  cancer  grows  from  a  division  of  its 
own  cells,  and  without  any  support  from  the  cells  consti- 
tuting the  surrounding  tissue. 

Tumors  are  subject  to  disease  the  same  as  healthy 
tissue.  Aside  from  transmission  from  the  blood-stream 
and  lymphatics,  malignant  growths  may  be  carried 
down  the  trachea,  and  through  the  ureters.  The  more 
purely  cellular  the  tumor,  the  more  malignant  the 
growth.  Neuromas,  or  nerve-tumors,  are  rare,  affect 
only  the  motor  nerves,  and  are  harmless  except  from 
pressure  or  mechanical  interference.  Malignant  tu- 
mors are  called  carcinoma,  sarcoma,  and  epithelioma. 
Carcinoma  has  a  framework  of  connective  tissue  the 
same  as  other  structures  and  organs,  and  the  interven- 
ing spaces  are  filled  with  epithelial  cells.  Epithelium 
is  the  name  given  to  the  cells  which  cover  the  surface 
of  the  body  and  all  mucous  membrane.  When  the  con- 
nective tissue  framework  is  thick  and  the  spaces  are 
filled  with  large  cells,  the  cancer  is  hard  and  fibrous. 
Sometimes  there  is  but  a  small  amount  of  connective 
tissue  framework,  with  a  corresponding  increase  in  the 
epithelial  cells  which  constitute  the  growth,  giving  it  a 
soft  appearance,  resembling  the  physical  character  of 
brain-matter,  hence  they  are  called  encephaloid,  mean- 
ing brain-like. 

Sometimes  hard  carcinomas,  which  grow  from  the 
skin  and  mucous  membrane,  are  called  epitheliomas. 
They  occur  on  the  lip,  nose,  tongue,  stomach,  etc.,  so 
called  because  of  their  being  located  on  the  surface. 


206  MICROBES  AND  HEALTH. 

Carcinomas  are  formed  in  the  lymphatic  tissue.  The 
spaces  between  the  fibers  which  form  the  framework 
are  merely  dilated  lymph  spaces,  and  these  spaces  are 
more  or  less  filled  with  epithelial  cells.  The  blood- 
vessels are  situated  in  the  connective  tissue  framework, 
therefore  do  not  communicate  directly  with  the  cells, 
which  lie  loose  within  the  spaces,  and  which  constitute 
the  growth.  If  carcinoma  should  cause  destruction  of 
the  connective  tissue  framework  sufficient  to  reach  the 
blood-vessels,  more  or  less  hemorrhage  would  result  and 
it  would  then  spread  by  the  blood-stream  as  well  as  by 
the  lymphatics.  As  carcinoma  or  can.oer  is  always  de- 
rived from  epithelial  cells,  it  may  occur  primarily  where- 
ever  these  cells  are  found.  These  cells  cover  the  muc- 
ous membrane  of  the  digestive  tract,  that  lining  the  air- 
tubes  of  the  lungs;  they  cover  the  serous  membranes 
lining  all  closed  cavities,  as  the  abdominal,  chest  cavity, 
etc.,  all  glands  and  their  ducts.  When  cancer  is  found 
in  other  tissues  it  is  secondary,  having  been  carried  by 
the  circulation  or  lymphatics.  Those  forms  of  cancer 
called  sarcomas,  like  carcinomas,  are  given  many 
names.  They  are  composed  of  embryonic  or  newly 
formed  connective  tissue  cells.  Connective  tissue  forms 
a  framework  for  all  the  structures  of  the  body.  When 
resulting  from  inflammation,  the  new  cells  are  first 
small  and  round,  next  they  elongate  into  oval  or  spindle 
cells,  then  become  hard  and  fibrous.  In  sarcoma  these 
cells  may  undergo  no  higher  change,  but  remain  round, 
or  they  may  become  oval,  spindle-shape  or  fibrous; 
hence  there  are  round-cell  sarcoma,  oval-cell  sarcoma, 
and  spindle-cell  sarcoma.  Wl^en  there  is  general  fibril- 


THE   KOJ^-CO^TAGIOUS    DISEASES.  207 

lation  with  loss  of  many  cells,  as  in  degeneration,  they 
are  called  myxoma,  or  myeloid  sarcoma,  from  their  re- 
semblance to  bone-marrow.  Sometimes  the  framework 
contains  black  pigment  or  coloring  matter;  these  are 
called  melano-sarcoma. 

Combinations  of  these  and  other  names  are  used. 
Ohrondroma  means  a  tumor  springing  from  cartilage; 
osteoma,  one  springing  from  bone;  myoma,  springing 
from  muscle ;  neuroma,  nerve-tumor.  Myxoma  (mucous) 
or  myxo-sarcoma,  is  so  called  when  degenerative  changes 
have  produced  a  gelatinous  substance  resembling 
mucous. 

Lipoma  is  one  containing  much  fat. 

Sarcomas  are  composed  of  embryonic  or  newly 
formed  connective  tissue  cells,  and  may  occur  wherever 
there  is  connective  tissue.  They  may  arise  at  any  age, 
but  are  most  common  in  early  life,  while  carcinomas  sel- 
dom occur  before  forty  years  of  age.  In  carcinoma  the 
blood  vessels  are  situated  in  the  connective  tissue  frame- 
work, in  sarcoma  they  open  directly  into  the  growth, 
and  in  their  passage  through  the  tumor  the  vessel  walls 
are  formed  by  sarcomatous  cells;  therefore  the  cells 
may  easily  fall  into  the  current  and  be  washed  away 
by  the  circulation.  The  veins  may  carry  some  of  these 
cells  to  the  heart,  and  as  the  blood  is  sent  through  the 
lungs  the  malignant  cells  may  lodge  in  the  capillary 
network  of  vessels  and  produce  secondary  sarcoma. 
Emboli,  or  blood-clots,  may  now  be  carried  back  to  the 
left  side  of  the  heart  and  sent  through  the  general  cir- 
culation, and  may  lodge  in  the  brain,  liver,  kidneys, 
bone,  etc.,  and  produce  secondary  sarcoma.  Sarcomas 


208  MICROBES   AXD    HEALTH. 

usually  grow  more  rapidly  than  carcinomas  by  reason 
of  their  more  direct  blood-supply;  and  when  removed 
they  are  more  likely  to  recur,  because,  as  just  explained, 
the  malignant  cells  are  more  liable  to  be  distributed 
through  the  system  and  may  develop  at  any  point. 

Eating  cancer,  or  rodent  ulcer,  occurs  on  the  face 
and  springs  from  a  sweat-gland,  sebaceous  gland,  or 
hair-follicle. 

Birth-marks  are  sometimes  called  angioma,  meaning 
blood-tumor.  They  are  caused  by  dilation  of  the  blood- 
vessels which  lie  just  beneath  the  surface. 

These  different  varieties  differ  only  in  the  size  and 
shape  of  the  cells  of  which  they  are  formed,  and  the 
part  of  the  body  in  which  they  are  located.  Eeally  it 
is  a  distinction  without  a  difference,  for  unless  success- 
fully removed  all,  except  birth-marks,  are  destructive 
to  life. 

Benign  tumors,  or  those  not  destructive  to  life,  are 
common  connective  tissue  overgrowths.  Usually  their 
only  danger  is  their  mechanical  interference  with  the 
surrounding  structures.  However,  they  may  rotate  at 
the  point  where  they  are  attached  (pedicle),  and  this 
may  cause  pressure  and  check  the  return  circulation. 
The  veins  would  become  congested,  rupture,  and  be 
followed  by  hemorrhage.  Inflammation  and  suppur- 
ation may  follow,  or  inflammatory  adhesions  might  oc- 
cur, the  tumor  becoming  attached  to  the  surrounding 
structures.  This  might  cause  perforation  into  the  di- 
gestive tract,  and  be  followed  by  death. 

Their  pressure  may  cause  inflammation  of  the  kid- 
neys, constipation,  spasms  or  paralysis  by  pressure  upon 


THE   NOK-CO^TAGIOUS    DISEASES.  209 

nerve-fibers,  or  may  cause  enlargement  of  the  heart, 
and  be  followed  by  degenerative  changes,  etc.  None 
of  these  conditions  often  occur,  yet  they  should  be  con- 
sidered of  sufficient  importance  for  the  removal  of  be- 
nign tumors.  Medical  writers  have  never  given  the 
cause  of  tumors,  or  the  causes  from  different  investi- 
gators are  but  different  theories,  varying  in  probability 
and  ingenuity. 

Cancer, 

A  prominent  medical  writer  said  recently:  "The 
theory  of  germ-causation,  never  generally  accepted,  has 
been  almost  entirely  abandoned.  The  view  most  gen- 
erally entertained  at  this  time  is  that  cancer  is  the  re- 
sult of  rapid  growth  of  the  cells  of  the  basement  mem- 
brane, due  to  septic  blood."  Basement  membrane  is  a 
thin  layer  of  flattened,  almost  indistinguishable  cells, 
just  beneath  the  surface  of  the  mucous  membrane.  It 
also  forms  one  of  the  layers  of  the  skin,  and  dips  down 
into  the  little  glands  of  the  skin,  stomach,  etc. 

"Cancer  is  most  apt  to  occur  in  an  organ  where  septic 
blood  has  produced  chronic  congestion  or  inflammation, 
and  nerve-control  has  become  partially  lost  through 
gradual  progressive  paralysis.  In  other  words  it  is  a 
degenerative  change.  The  nutrition  and  function  of 
the  organ  involved  have  escaped  the  control  of  the 
nerves,  and  the  cells  of  the  part  multiply  energetically 
and  lawlessly,  according  to  their  nature.  Eapid  multi- 
plication of  tissue-cells  always  means  a  diminution  of 
vitality  in  each  individual  cell. 

"In  health  the  nerve-supply  imposes  cell-function, 

14 


210  MICROBES   AND    HEALTH. 

retards  decay  and  death;  but  with  this  influence  im- 
paired or  removed  by  paralysis,  the  tissue-cells  know  no 
higher  law  than  their  own  inherent  tendencies,  and 
with  the  abundance  of  blood  and  lymph  furnished  by 
the  engorged  organ  the  diseased  cells  multiply  and  re- 
produce their  kind  with  the  greatest  luxuriance  and 
abandonment.  The  most  immature  and  imperfect 
formed  cells — those  of  the  surface — are  constantly  dy- 
ing and  breaking  down,  furnishing  the  phenomena  of 
ulceration  and  hemorrhage/'  This  corresponds  exactly 
with  the  condition  which  exists  during  dyspepsia;  lack 
of  elimination,  lack  of  nourishment,  and  the  degenerat- 
ing tendencies  which  always  follow. 

Rheumatism. 

Eheumatism  is  not  a  disease  but  a  symptom — a  symp- 
tom of  a  disease  generated  in  the  system.  'The  term 
muscular  rheumatism  is  not  correct.  Strictly  speaking 
it  is  neuralgia  and  neuralgia  is  but  nature's  voice  calling 
attention  to  our  errors.  If  the  reader  could  examine 
the  affected  muscle  under  the  microscope,  the  fibers  of 
which  the  muscle  is  formed  would  be  found  in  a  natural 
condition.  There  would  be  no  inflammation  or  other 
evidence  of  disease;  demonstrating  clearly  that  the 
trouble  was  confined  to  the  nerve-fibers  and  not  in  the 
muscle.  The  pain  may  be  increased  by  exposure,  in- 
sufficient food,  improper  clothing,  etc.  Hard  work  also 
increases  the  irritation,  hence  those  muscles  doing  the 
most  work  are  most  affected,  as  those  of  the  back, 
shoulders,  wrist  or  other  joints. 

Rheumatism  may  be  acute  or  chronic,  may  affect 


THE   ^0^-COKTAGIOUS   DISEASES.  211 

muscles,  joints  or  other  structures.  Bheumatism  of  a 
joint  differs  from  muscular  rheumatism.  Every  joint 
is  enclosed  in  a  thin  membrane  in  the  form  of  a  short, 
wide  tube.  The  membrane  is  attached  at  either  end  to 
the  margin  of  the  articular  surfaces  of  the  bones  form- 
ing the  joint.  This  membrane  encloses  the  various  lig- 
aments, which  support  the  joint.  This  membrane  fur- 
nishes the  secretions  or  fluids,  which  lubricate  the  joint 
and  prevent  friction.  In  acute  rheumatism  of  a  joint 
the  irritation  causes  an  increased  blood-supply,  and 
there  is  swelling  and  redness  in  proportion  to  the  in- 
crease in  the  circulation.  The  more  vascular  the  part, 
the  greater  the  swelling.  The  swelling  causes  pressure 
and  the  pressure  causes  pain.  Eedness  or  discoloration 
is  caused  by  the  escape  of  the  red  blood-corpuscles  into 
the  surrounding  tissue.  With  an  increase  in  the  blood- 
supply  there  is  an  increase  in  the  tissue  changes,  hence 
an  increase  in  the  temperature  because  animal  temper- 
ature depends  upon  tissue  change. 

This  gives  what  are  called  the  four  cardinal  symp- 
toms, swelling,  redness,  heat  and  pain.  Pain  is  not 
always  present.  For  instance  there  may  be  little  or  no 
pain  in  chronic  inflammation  of  the  liver.  There  may 
be  no  pain  in  inflammation  of  the  solitary  glands,  called 
Peyer's  glands,  in  typhoid  fever. 

Chronic  "rheumatism  of  joints  does  not  usually  follow 
the  acute,  but  arises  insidiously  in  people  who  have 
suffered  from  exposure,  improper  food,  overwork  and 
other  hardships.  In  chronic  rheumatism  of  joints  the 
cartilage  covering  the  articulating  or  adjoining  ends  of 
bone  may  become  eroded.  The  exposed  bone  becomes 


212  MICROBES   AND    HEALTH. 

irregularly  thickened,  the  capsule  or  membrane  cover- 
ing the  joint,  and  the  ligaments  which  support  it,  may 
become  fibrous  and  contract.  The  prolonged  irritation 
has  here  caused  a  slow  form  of  inflammation,  and  the 
same  changes  take  place  as  elsewhere.  There  is  an  in- 
crease in  the  connective  tissue  framework;  later  tin's 
contracts,  deforms  the  joint  and  limits  mobility.  The 
contracting  fibers  cause  pressure,  aiding  in  the  destruc- 
tion of  cartilage,  ligaments  and  other  normal  tissues. 
Sometimes  during  these  degenerative  changes  the  liga- 
ment which  supports  the  joint  softens,  allowing  certain 
muscles  which  are  attached  near  the  joint  to  contract, 
thus  causing  deformity.  Sometimes  the  tendons  and 
ligaments  about  the  joint  become  filled  with  lime  salts, 
of  which  bone  is  formed.  This  results  in  a  stiff  joint. 
Pus  does  not  form. 

The  best  treatment  for  chronic  rheumatism  is  hot 
air.  A  temperature  from  three  hundred  to  five  hun- 
dred degrees  may  be  applied.  Hot  air  dilates  the  small 
vessels,  brings  the  blood  to  the  surface  where  it  is  ap- 
plied, and  thus  relieves  the  congestion  or  inflammation 
beneath.  It  causes  the  blood  to  flow  through  the  part. 
This  relieves  the  pressure  and  stops  the  pain,  adhesions 
and  accumulations  are  broken  down  and  removed,  thus 
preventing  stiff  joints.  There  is  active  discharge 
through  the  skin,  and  this  removal  of  waste  relieves  the 
irritated  nerves.  The  improvement  in  the  circulation 
stimulates  natural  activity,  nutrition  is  increased,  the 
heart  is  strengthened,  a  clouded  brain  is  relieved,  the 
torpidity  is  overcome. 


THE   NON-CONTAGIOUS    DISEASES.  213 

Massage  is  also  of  benefit.  Massage  stimulates  the 
circulation  with  the  same  results  as  hot  air,  though  it 
is  much  more  limited  in  its  effect. 

Electricity,  applied  by  the  interrupted  or  Faradic 
current,  is  only  a  means  of  massage.  The  advantage 
from  the  interrupted  current  comes  from  the  fine,  vi- 
bratory, massage-like  effect;  in  other  words,  from  the 
mechanical  effect  and  not  from  the  electricity. 

The  remedies  to  be  used  are  laxative  and  antiseptic. 
Digestion  must  be  improved.  Hot  air  or  drug-medica- 
tion will  be  more  effectual  if  administered  by  one  skilled 
in  their  application ;  but  what  any  and  every  one  can  do 
is  to  guard  against  all  forms  of  excess,  keep  the  elimi- 
native  organs  active,  and  they  will  not  be  troubled  with 
rheumatism.  Every  thinking  mind  will  admit  that 
rheumatism  is  generated  from  waste  products  which  are 
retained  within  the  system.  Active  elimination  will 
prevent  this,  and  prevention  will  relieve  the  necessity 
of  treatment. 

Following  dyspepsia  there  is  first  congestion,  and  if 
continued  this  results  in  a  low  form  of  inflammation 
as  described.  Any  part  or  organ  offering  the  least  re- 
sistance will  be  most  affected,  and  when  the  inflamma- 
tion reaches  a  certain  point  there  will  be  cell-prolifera- 
tion or  increase  of  tissue,  resulting  from  the  increased 
blood-supply. 

The  new  tissue  is  a  form  of  connective  tissue  which 
nature  designed  as  a  framework  for  all  the  structures 
of  the  bod}r,  described  on  page  138.  Gradually  the 
natural  tissue  is  replaced  by  the  new.  This  new  tis- 


214  MICROBES   AND   HEALTH. 

sue  takes  no  part  in  the  work  carried  on  by  any  of 
the  various  organs,  but  crowds  out  more  or  less  the 
original,  and  the  organ  or  part  is  weakened  in  propor- 
tion. Healthy  tissue  is  caught  in  the  contracting  fibers 
and  destroyed.  Many  small  blood  vessels  are  obliter- 
ated. If  in  the  stomach,  the  part  supplied  by  such  a 
vessel  may  die  from  lack  of  nourishment,  degeneration 
follows. 

As  stated  every  scar  is  an  example  of  this  kind  of  tis- 
sue. The  scar  looks  light  in  color  in  proportion  to  the 
number  of  blood  vessels  destroyed.  If  on  the  scalp  the 
contracting  fibers,  besides  obliterating  blood  vessels,  will 
destroy  some  of  the  hair-follicles  and  leaves  a  bare  spot. 
A  scar  is  large  or  small  according  to  whether  the  edges 
of  the  wound  were  brought  smoothly  together  or  allowed 
to  gape,  leaving  a  space  to  be  filled  in  with  what  is  called 
granulation  tissue. 

The  amount  of  this  newly  formed  tissue  is  in  propor- 
tion to  the  amount  of  inflammation  and  septic  or  poi- 
sonous matter  contained  in  the  blood.  Perhaps  a  burn 
gives  the  best  illustration  of  the  contraction  of  connec- 
tive tissue  resulting  from  inflammation,  because  there 
is  more  of  it;  in  this  case  the  tissue  destroyed  by  the 
burn — dead  tissue — is  in  contact  with  the  healthy,  and 
as  the  dead  tissue  is  being  decomposed  and  removed  its 
morbid  influence  comes  in  direct  contact  with  the  liv- 
ing. This  is  the  battle  line  between  the  living  and  the 
dead,  hence  inflammation  is  more  intense,  and  there  re- 
sults more  connective  tissue  overgrowth.  As  a  result 
of  burns  many  people  have  seen  the  hands  or  face 
drawn  out  of  all  resemblance  to  a  human  being. 


THE   NON-CONTAGIOUS    DISEASES.  215 

Paralysis. 

Paralysis  is  due  to  inflammation  and  connective  tis- 
sue overgrowth,  produced  by  septic  blood.  The  inflam- 
mation affects  the  spinal  cord,  or  the  cord  and  brain. 
The  changes  are  caused  by  irritation  and  a  loss  of  nutri- 
tion. The  irritation  paralyzes  more  or  less  the  nerves 
controlling  the  blood  vessels  supplying  the  cord  and 
brain,  and  the  vessels  dilate.  Too  much  blood  is  the 
result  and  there  follows  a  low  form  of  inflammation 
and  connective  tissue  overgrowth,  as  described.  There 
is  a  corresponding  destruction  of  nerve-fibers  and  nerve- 
cells  in  the  cord  and  brain.  The  contraction  of  the 
newly  formed  tissue  squeezes  the  nerve  structures,  shut- 
ting off  their  circulation,  causing  pressure  and  aiding 
in  their  destruction.  The  nerve-fibers  are  found  in 
different  stages  of  degeneration.  The  semi-independent 
nerve-centers  formed  by  the  aggregation  of  the  gang- 
lionic  or  larger  nerve-cells  in  the  cord  degenerate  and 
disappear  more  or  less  completely.  With  the  destruc- 
tion of  the  natural  tissue  and  the  contraction  of  the  con- 
nective tissue  overgrowth,  the  spinal  cord  becomes  hard 
and  fibrous. 

According  to  the  newer  teaching  the  nerve-tissue  is 
destroyed  first,  and  is  followed  by  connective  tissue  over- 
growth. It  is  impossible  for  this  to  be  true  beyond  a 
limited  extent,  for  the  first  nerve-cell  that  died  would 
excite  inflammation  around  it,  and  this  would  cause  an 
increase  in  the  connective  tissue,  and  the  contraction 
of  this  would  destroy  other  nerve-structures,  obliterate 
small  arteries,  and  thus  aid  in  degenerative  changes. 


216  MICROBES   AND    HEALTH. 

The  question  is  of  small  importance,  however,  for  back 
of  all  is  a  lack  of  nourishment  caused  by  indigestion. 
Exposure,  over-exertion  or  injury  may  also  be  respon- 
sible for  some  cases  of  spinal  disease. 

Practically  all  forms  of  paralysis  are  the  same.  They 
consist  of  increased  blood-supply,  the  result  of  inflam- 
mation, followed  by  degeneration  of  the  nerves  and 
nerve-cells,  an  overgrowth  of  connective  tissue  which 
contracts  and  hardens.  Sometimes  one  part  of  the 
cord  is  affected,  sometimes  another. 

A  nerve  is  no  more  or  less  than  a  long  drawn  out 
process  of  a  nerve-cell.  Certain  cells  in  the  brain  and 
spinal  cord  send  out  these  prolongations,  and  thus  the 
nervous  system  is  formed. 

The  nerves  of  sensation  arise  in  the  back  part  of  the 
cord,  hence  inflammation  of  this  part  is  first  indicated 
by  increased  sensibility,  which  may  be  in  the  form  of 
pain,  numbness,  or  tingling  sensations.  Later  there  is 
loss  of  sensation,  showing  that  the  destruction  is  more 
complete. 

The  nerves  of  motion  arise  in  the  front  part  of  the 
cord,  hence  inflammation  of  this  part,  acting  as  a  stim- 
ulant, is  first  indicated  by  increased  muscular  action. 
This  is 'followed  by  loss  of  motion  and  shrinking  of  the 
muscles,  showing  destruction  and  degeneration  of  this 
system. 

The  voluntary  muscles  of  the  body  and  extremities 
are  supplied  with  nerves  from  the  spinal  cord.  Many 
of  the  nerves  arising  in  the  brain  extend  downward, 
connect  with  the  spinal  nerves  and  modify  or  control 


THE   NOtf-CO^TAGIOUS    DISEASES.  217 

~~    > 

their  action ;  but  during  inflammation  messages  cannot 
be  transmitted  through  the  diseased  area  in  the  cord, 
and  this  leaves  that  portion  and  all  below  it  without  a 
brake,  and  the  spinal  nerves  having  escaped  the  control 
of  the  mind,  set  up  a  spasmodic  action  due  to  the  in- 
flammation. 

At  first  the  inflammation  acts  as  a  stimulant  and  the 
nerves  respond  by  involuntary  movements.  The  pa- 
tient cannot  control  his  actions  because  of  the  con- 
stant excitement  kept  up  in  the  cord. 

In  the  second  stage  of  that  form  of  paralysis  known 
as  locomotor  ataxia,  the  feet  and  lower  limbs  escape  the 
control  of  the  patient  and  fly  in  all  directions.  Later 
the  hands  and  arms  may  suffer  in  the  same  way.  With 
the  destruction  of  the  nerves,  all  motion  is  lost  and 
paralysis  is  complete. 

Paralysis  of  the  lower  limbs  alone  indicates  invasion 
of  the"  lower  part  of  the  spinal  cord,  because  the  nerves 
governing  them  arise  in  the  lower  part.  Paralysis  of 
the  hands  and  arms  indicates  invasion  of  the  cervical 
portion,  because  the  nerves  governing  them  arise  there. 

Chronic  progressive  bulbar  paralysis;  i.  e.,  paralysis 
of  the  muscles  of  the  throat,  tongue,  lips,  etc.,  is  caused 
by  connective  tissue  overgrowth  at  the  base  of  the  brain, 
where  the  nerves  supplying  these  muscles  take  origin. 
The  nerves  themselves  are  first  hardened  by  inflam- 
matory processes,  and  later  degenerate.  These  changes 
take  place  gradually;  so  do  these  forms  of  paralysis. 
At  first  a  few  cells  are  affected,  the  number  increases 
until  nutrition  and  function  of  the  part  escape  nerve- 
control,  when  the  change  takes  place  more  rapidly. 


218  MICROBES   AND   HEALTH. 

A  blood-clot  may  plug  an  artery  supplying  a  group 
of  nerve-cells  in  the  cord  and  cause  sudden  or  acute 
paralysis. 

No  attempt  has  been  made  to  give  a  detailed  account 
of  the  changes  which  take  place.  The  object  is  to  call 
attention  to  the  fact  that  indigestion  from  any  cause 
may  result  in  any  and  all  forms  of  paralysis. 

Sometimes  inflammation  of-  the  spinal  cord  may  fol- 
low chronic  rheumatism  and  produce  permanent  muscu- 
lar contraction,  with  great  deformity  of  joints. 

These  changes  in  the  cord  are  responsible  for  all 
forms  of  paralysis,  and  may  be  caused  by  the  irritation 
produced  by  alcohol,  tobacco,  over-eating,  retained 
waste,  etc.,  as  already  mentioned.  Drinking  hard  cider 
will  do  the  same  thing.  Hard  cider  contains  not  only 
alcohol,  but  many  acids  which  will  produce  inflamma- 
tion and  chronic  catarrh  of  the  stomach,  and  this  means 
indigestion  and  disease. 

Volumes  are  written  upon  paralysis  and  nervous  dis- 
eases, volumes  that  would  puzzle  the  angels  and  drive 
the  devil  crazy,  yet  the  subject  is  not  so  difficult  to 
understand.  Long-continued  irritation  in  any  part  of 
the  body  will  sooner  or  later  produce  its  evil  effects  by 
interfering  with  the  central  nervous  system,  the  brain 
and  spinal  cord.  Headache  is  characteristic  of  this 
irritation ;  so  are  neuralgia  and  rheumatism.  These  are 
nature's  language  forcibly  expressed,  telling  us  of  the 
poison  in  the  body  and  demanding  its  removal. 

If  we  continue,  we  expose  ourselves  to  all  kinds  of 
aches  and  pains,  to  morbid  growths,  to  all  forms  of 
nervousness,  to  paralysis,  etc. 


THE   KON-COKTAGIOUS    DISEASES.  219 

If  these  statements  are  true  they  clear  up  the  causes 
of  many  spinal  and  nervous  diseases  that  have  never 
been  accounted  for.  Yet  some  people  are  not  satisfied 
with  a  plain,  simple  statement  of  facts,  but  prefer  to 
build  upon  theory,  something  of  a  sensational  nature. 
But  even  theory  has  never  given  a  cause  for  epilepsy. 

Epilepsy. 

Epilepsy  seems  to  have  been  born  without  a  father; 
and  like  Topsy  it  never  had  a  mother,  yet  disorders  of 
digestion,  depression  of  spirits,  loss  of  vigor,  a  feeling 
of  languor,  an  unhealthy  system,  and  a  clouded  brain, 
are  common  in  epileptics,  thus  giving  evidence  of  a  lack 
of  nourishment.  This  robs  the  blood  of  its  natural 
elements.  It  has  been  stated  that  the  higher  forms  of 
digestion  are  carried  on  in  the  circulation ;  for  instance, 
oxidation  aids  bodily  combustion  by  burning  certain 
elements  in  the  blood;  i.  e.,  by  uniting  with  them  and 
producing  what  are  called  end-products,  so  called  be- 
cause such  products  undergo  no  further  change,  but  are 
eliminated. 

To  illustrate:  As  a  result  of  the  tissue-change  go- 
ing on  in  the  body  uric  acid  is  produced.  By  oxidation 
this  is  converted  into  urea  and  eliminated  by  the  kid- 
neys, but  with  septic  blood  oxidation  is  incomplete  and 
urea  is  not  formed,  the  change  stops  one  step  short, 
and  the  uric  acid  remains  as  an  irritating  substance 
carried  through  the  circulation.  This  results  in  inflam- 
mation and  degenerative  changes  in  all  the  tissues  of 
the  bod}r.  The  uric  acid  and  other  irritating  substances 


220  MICROBES    AND    HEALTH. 

produce  a  chemical  change  in  the  gray  matter  (cells) 
of  the  brain.  First  this  change  occurs  in  the  blood, 
then  in  the  tissues,  including  the  brain  and  cord  as 
alread}r  mentioned. 

If  continued,  there  are  later  direct  molecular  or 
structural  changes.  This  accounts  for  insanity  as  well 
as  epilepsy,  for  during  insanity  the  chemistry  of  the 
brain  is  altered,  the  composition  of  the  brain-matter  is 
not  natural.  It  cannot  be  otherwise,  impure  blood 
never  did  and  never  will  produce  healthy  natural  tissue. 

One-fifth  of  all  the  blood  in  the  body  goes  to  nourish 
the  brain,  hence  the  brain  receives  five  times  as  much 
blood  as  any  other  organ  of  its  size;  and  it  must  follow 
that  any  habit  or  indulgence  which  impairs  digestion, 
and  gives  unhealthy  blood,  must  produce  a  special 
morbid  influence  upon  the  brain  and  nervous  system. 
Hence  the  enormous  production  of  nervous  debility, 
monomania,  hypochondria,  insanity,  idiocy,  and  many 
minor  ailments  such  as  rheumatism,  neuralgia,  headache, 
mental  stupor,  lack  of  resolution,  etc.  Indigestion  and 
retained  waste  irritate  the  nervous  system  and  produce 
the  different  mental,  nervous  and  emotional  states 
known  as  hysteria,  nervousness,  melancholia  and  other 
depressions  and  hallucinations.  This  is  the  foundation 
upon  which  epilepsy  stands. 

Dynamite  may  be  struck  once,  or  a  thousand  times, 
if  the  blows  are  light  enough,  but  sooner  or  later  it  will 
explode;  and  the  irritation  produced  by  dyspepsia  may 
be  stored  up  for  a  time,  but  sooner  or  later  it  too  will 
explode.  It  will  accumulate  in  the  central  nervous  sys- 


THE   NON-CONTAGIOUS   DISEASES.  221 

tern,,  the  brain  and  spinal  cord,  until  they  are  sur- 
charged; and  now  at  the  first  opportunity  it  breaks 
forth,  and  its  power  for  the  time  is  irresistible,  as  in 
an  epileptic  fit. 

Eye  specialists  claim  that  continued  irritation,  caused 
by  constant  strain  of  some  of  the  muscles  of  the  eye, 
has  produced  epilepsy  in  school  children,  and  that  the 
correction  of  the  trouble  with  glasses  has  resulted  in  a 
permanent  cure. 

The  correction  removed  the  irritation. 

Those  who  have  studied  the  question  of  epilepsy  be- 
lieve that  with  attention  to  diet  and  elimination  a  cure 
may  be  effected,  while  we  all  know  that  drug-medica- 
tion is  useless.  Operations  are  also  useless.  All  forms 
have  been  tried. 

If  injury  should  drive  a  sliver  of  bone  into  the  skull, 
or  cause  other  brain-pressure,  an  operation  might  re- 
lieve and  effect  a  cure.  Epilepsy  is  seldom  caused  by 
injury. 

During  an  attack  of  epilepsy  the  patient  foams  at 
the  mouth  because  he  is  unable  to  swallow.  The  same 
is  true  during  an  attack  of  hydrophobia. 

Many  will  be  unwilling  to  believe  indigestion  the 
cause  of  so  many  ailments,  as  they  may  never  have  had 
any  pain  or  other  evidence  referable  to  the  digestive 
organs;  yet  pain  and  other  evidences  of  dyspepsia  are 
not  always  referred  to  the  seat  of  trouble,  but  may  be 
flashed  over  a  nerve-trunk  and  appear  at  some  distant 
point.  There  may  be  burning,  itching,  a  creeping  or 
crawling  sensation  in  different  parts  of  the  body,  there 


MICROBES    AND   HEALTH. 

may  be  lightning  pains,  neuralgia,  rheumatism,  head- 
ache, dizziness,  spasms,  hysteria,  bad  taste  in  the  mouth, 
jaundice,  coated  tongue,  foul  breath,  and  many  other 
manifestations,  all  the  result  of  dyspepsia,  accumulated 
poisons  in  the  system,  bad  air,  lack  of  exercise,  etc. 

Why  so  many  indications  from  the  same  cause? 

Because  of  our  several  powers  to  resist.  A  diseased 
stomach  often  causes  pain  in  the  lungs.  That  is  be- 
cause the  same  nerve  supplies  both  organs.  This  nerve 
is  also  connected  with  that  part  of  the  brain  which  con- 
trols coughing,  hence  the  irritation  may  produce  cough. 
Many  think  this  is  evidence  of  consumption.  This  is 
the  kind  of  consumption  that  patent-medicine  fakes 
cure.  After  free  elimination  and  the  great  "benefit  that 
always  follows,  it  is  no  trouble  to  get  the  usual  letter 
from  the  patient,  who  no  doubt  believes  she  has  been 
snatched  from  the  brink  of  the  grave. 

Cerebro-spinal  meningitis,  or  inflammation  of  the 
membrane  covering  the  brain  and  cord,  may  be  caused 
by  septic  blood  and  retained  waste.  This  condition 
excites  inflammation  in  the  membranes  mentioned,  and 
disease  follows. 

As  stated,  medical  authors  do  not  account  for  many 
diseases.  They  tell  us  they  are  due  to  the  "preponder- 
ance of  the  nervous  system  in  the  bodily  conformation," 
or  "to  hereditary  neuropathic  diathesis."  We  are  told 
that  "gelatinous  children  of  albuminous  parents,"  are 
especially  liable  to  tubercular  meningitis. 

Take  those  diseases,  the  cause  of  which  has  never 
been  given,  and  apply  the  following : 


THE   NOtf-CONTAGIOUS   DISEASES.  223 

First,  indigestion  from  any  cause. 

Second,  an  unhealthy  condition  of  the  digestive  tract. 

Third,  unhealthy  blood. 

Fourth,  a  lack  of  nourishment  which  must  result. 

Fifth,  the  retained  waste  acting  as  an  irritant  and 
setting  up  a  low  form  of  inflammation  (temperature 
may  not  be  raised). 

Sixth,  production  of  morbid  or  diseased  tissue  and 
destruction  of  the  natural,  with  corresponding  loss  of 
organic  function. 

Seventh,  lowering  of  all  the  vital  forces;  the  powers 
of  resistance  being  more  or  less  diminished. 

Eighth,  contracting  and  hardening  of  the  newly 
formed  tissue,  producing  degenerative  changes  in  all 
the  organs  of  the  body. 

The  effect  extends  all  the  way  from  slight  symptoms 
to  more  severe  forms,  and  death. 

These  conditions  and  changes  actually  occur,  as  every 
pathologist  can  testify. 

In  all  cases  disease,  any  disease,  is  an  indication  that 
the  system  lacks  nourishment,  that  lowering  tendencies 
have  been  going  on  in  the  body,  that  waste  and  repair 
are  not  equal,  that  the  nervous  system  has  gradually 
lost  control. 

It  would  be  unreasonable  to  say  that  disease  is  caused 
by  an  increase  in  power  or  strength  of  the  individual. 

If  disease  is  due  to  a  lack  of  nourishment,  this  has 
been  brought  about  by  bad  air,  poor  food,  poor  diges- 
tion resulting  from  rapid  eating,  eating  too  much,  from 
whisky  or  tobacco,  from  tight  lacing,  from  lack  of  exer- 


224  MICROBES   AND    HEALTH. 

else,  too  much  hard  work,  or  other  forms  of  excess. 
The  greatest  cause  is  constipation. 

Many  finely  written  articles  and  much  theorizing  have 
been  indulged  in,  regarding  the  causes  of  constipation; 
some  claiming  a  lack  of  development  in  the  thickness 
of  the  muscular  walls  of  the  digestive  tract,  imperfect 
nerve-supply,  poor  circulation;  in  the  kind  of  food 
taken,  in  pathologic  or  diseased  relations  in  the  sur- 
rounding tissues  or  organs;  some  arguing  that  the 
malady  is  congenital,  some  that  it  is  acquired;  some 
claiming  that  it  is  due  to  too  much  hard  work,  and 
some  to  not  enough,  etc.  And  all  this  time  consti- 
pation reigns  supreme,  and  every  day  plunges  the  in- 
dividual lower  in  the  scale  of  health.  Constipation 
means  the  production  of  many  poisons  which  per- 
meate the  system,  with  lowering  tendencies,  deadening 
sensibility,  stupefying  every  fiber.  The  poisons  formed 
in  the  digestive  tract  are  absorbed,  producing  a  chronic 
state  of  disease. 

The  blood  lacks  the  normal  constituents  and  con- 
tains too  much  waste,  the  blood-corpuscles  are  not 
healthy,  the  circulation  becomes  sluggish,  with  a  tend- 
ency to  coagulation.  These  conditions  are  evidence 
that  nature  is  demanding  her  rights.  The  individual 
has  transgressed  beyond  the  limit  of  safety,  and  now 
must  pay  the  debt,  principal  and  interest. 

After  disease  is  established  skillful  treatment  may 
be  needed,  yet  every  disease  and  condition  of  ailment 
will  be  benefited  by  a  properly  selected  diet,  proper 
elimination,  and  the  avoidance  of  all  excesses.  • 


THE   NON-CONTAGIOUS    DISEASES.  226 

Not  all  the  skill  of  the  medical  profession  has  ever 
been  able  to  treat  the  different  forms  of  paralysis, 
epilepsy,  consumption,  etc.,  successfully  with  drug- 
medication  alone ;  and  sometimes  diseases  of  lesser  grav- 
ity, such  as  rheumatism,  sciatica,  neuralgia,  hysteria, 
etc.,  refuse  to  yield  to  it.  This  proves  that  the  disease 
is  systemic,  and  that  general  disinfection  is  needed, 
something  to  check  the  degenerative  changes,  and  na- 
tural food  to  supply  and  rebuild  the  wasting  tissues. 

Foods  are  derived  from  the  three  kingdoms,  animal, 
mineral  and  vegetable.  They  are  divided  into  nitrog- 
enous, those  containing  the  element  nitrogen;  and  the 
non-nitrogenous,  or  carbohydrates,  those  not  containing 
nitrogen. 

The  nitrogenous  are  classed  under  the  following 
heads : 

Fibrin,  from  the  animal  kingdom  (all  muscle  is 
chiefly  fibrin);  glutin,  from  the  vegetable  kingdom 
(this  is  a  form  of  albumin  existing  in  grain);  caseine, 
from  the  animal  and  vegetable  kingdoms  (this  is  a  form 
of  albumin  found  in  milk);  albumin,  from  the  animal 
and  vegetable  kingdoms. 

So  closely  do  these  principles  agree  in  chemical  com- 
position and  properties,  that  they  are  considered  as 
being  a  modification  of  one  substance,  and  are  called 
proteids.  Proteids  are  the  most  important  of  the  ani- 
mal and  vegetable  compounds,  and  none  of  the  phe- 
nomena of  life  occur  without  their  presence. 

The  other  class  of  food-stuffs,  the  non-nitrogenous, 
differ  more  than  do  the  proteids,  yet  they  all  have  two 

15 


226  MICROBES   AND   HEALTH. 

important  properties  in  common,  and  contain  two  im- 
portant substances  in  common;  i.  e.,  sugar  and  starch. 
Sugar  is  chiefly  of  vegetable  origin,  the  animal  varieties 
being  honey  and  the  sugar  found  in  milk.  Sugar  and 
starch  are  vegetable  products,  and  under  favorable  cir- 
cumstances unite  readily  with  the  oxygen  in  the  blood 
and  produce  water,  carbonic  acid  and  heat. 

The  three  vital  processes  of  life  in  both  plants  and 
animals  are  digestion,  circulation  and  respiration. 
Both  receive  their  nourishment  from  the  air  and  soil. 
Chief  among  the  substances  are  wheat,  corn,  rye,  oats, 
barley,  rice,  etc.  Collectively  these  are  called  cereals, 
and  are  said  to  contain  all  the  elements  necessary  to 
maintain  human  life.  There  is  said  to  be  no  record 
that  takes  us  back  or  beyond  the  cultivation  of  wheat. 
It  has  been  found  in  the  lake  dwellings  of  the  ancient 
Swiss,  and  many  believe  it  has  existed  since  man  has 
existed. 

It  is  estimated  that  two-thirds  of  our  food  is  starch. 
Uncooked  starch  is  indigestible.  Unripe  fruit  contains 
starch,  hence  the  danger  of  eating  it  uncooked.  The 
starch  is  converted  into  sugar  during  the  process  of 
the  fruit's  ripening.  Some  fruits  contain  sugar  in  con- 
siderable quantities,  giving  them  a  sweet  taste.  This 
is  grape  or  starch  sugar,  and  it  is  only  one-half  as  sweet 
as  cane  or  granulated  sugar. 

Much  has  been  said  and  written  concerning  the  food 
products — what  we  should  and  should  not  eat.  But 
when  it  comes  to  the  question  of  food  and  drink,  we 
are  continually  making  mistakes.  As  evidence,  we  have 


THE   NOtf-CONTAGIOUS   DISEASES.  227 

but  to  view  the  thousands  of  dyspeptics  on  every  hand. 

Pepsin  is  the  great  remedy  for  dyspepsia,  and  every 
butcher  shop,  sausage  factory,  and  all  the  great  slaugh- 
ter-houses throughout  the  country  have  found  it  profit- 
able to  go  into  the  pepsin-manufacturing  business. 
Never  before  were  there  such  enormous  quantities  of 
pepsin  manufactured,  and  never  before  was  there  so 
much  dyspepsia.  Gradually  we  learn  that  we  cannot 
purchase  our  digestion  ready  made. 

Statistics  prove  that  dyspepsia  is  the  primary  cause 
of  sickness  in  nearly  one  hundred  per  cent  of  cases. 
Few  escape  the  ravages  of  dyspepsia  at  some  period  of 
their  existence.  When  the  stomach  begins  to  give 
trouble,  artificial  digestants  are  resorted  to,  and  the 
great  army  of  consumers  turns  first  from  one  remedy 
to  another,  each  one  making  the  rounds  independent 
of  the  others.  In  this  way  the  different  manufacturers 
of  the  "dope"  are  kept  busy,  and  sharpers  are  making 
fortunes  every  year.  The  class  of  people  who  take 
this  patent  stuff  are  looking  for  a  specific,  a  something 
that  will  allow  them  to  continue  their  indulgences  and 
excesses,  at  the  same  time  paying  little  or  no  attention 
to  the  demands  of  nature.  But  sooner  or  later  nature 
claims  her  rights,  and  for  every  transgression  the  indi- 
vidual must  pay  principal  and  interest.  It  may  be  in 
the  form  of  an  acute  attack,  a  gradual  and  lingering 
disease,  some  of  the  many  deformities  from  rheumatism, 
spinal  disease,  or  an  early  death. 

Every  one  should  learn  that  artificial  digestants  af- 
ford but  temporary  relief,  that  their  effects  are  only 


228  MICROBES    AND   HEALTH. 

palliative;  i.  e.,  they  quiet  the  symptoms  without  touch- 
ing the  cause ;  and  that  if  continued  these  remedies  will 
still  further  weaken  the  digestive  organs.  They  do  this 
by  doing  their  work  for  them.  It  is  well  known  that 
nature  does  not  waste  any  of  her  forces,  and  that  she 
does  not  perform  any  work  in  vain,  and  if  artificial 
digestants  are  employed  the  natural  digestive  fluids  and 
ferments  will  cease  to  flow.  The  muscles  of  an  arm 
would  atrophy  if  the  arm  should  be  carried  in  a 
sling.  A  joint  would  refuse  to  act  if  it  were  kept 
for  a  long  time  in  one  position.  When  the  arm  and 
joint  cease  to  act  nature  ceases  to  supply  them.  The 
same  is  true  of  the  digestive  fluids.  If  they  are  sup- 
plied artificially,  the  digestive  organs  will  go  out  of 
business — atrophy — like  the  muscles  of  the  arm  carried 
in  the  sling,  or  refuse  to  act,  like  the  joint  that  had 
remained  too  long  inactive. 

The  symptoms  of  dyspepsia  are,  flatulency  with 
eructations,  bad  taste  in  the  mouth,  coated  tongue,  foul 
breath,  sense  of  fullness,  soreness,  pain,  or  a  feeling  of 
weight  in  the  stomach,  a  raw  or  burning  feeling  in  the 
stomach  or  behind  the  chest  bone,  low  spirits,  evil  fore- 
bodings, pressure  over  the  stomach,  drowsiness  after 
meals,  headache,  palpitation  of  the  heart,  with  flutter- 
ings,  and  at  times  a  hesitancy  in  its  action,  nausea  and 
perhaps  vomiting,  at  times  the  appetite  poor  and  again 
ferocious,  after  which  undigested  food  may  lie  in  the 
stomach  for  hours  or  days.  This  may  give  the  stomach 
control  over  the  mental  faculties,  and  the  sufferer 
becomes  irritable,  may  be  unable  to  sleep,  or  may  be 


THE   NON-COINTAGIOUS   DISEASES.  229 

troubled  with  bad  dreams.  Many  great  men  and  high 
livers  have  suffered  from  dyspepsia. 

Where  indigestion  occurs  in  the  digestive  tract  below 
the  stomach,  there  is  pain  or  soreness  two  or  three  hours 
after  eating.  If  gas  forms,  there  is  a  sense  of  fullness 
and  bloating.  If  long-continued  the  sufferer  will  be- 
come emaciated  from  lack  of  nourishment. 

The  remedy  for  dyspepsia  is  largely  in  the  hands  of 
the  sufferer,  and  can  be  expressed  in  one  word — Diet. 

Eructations  in  which  there  is  recognized  by  taste  or 
smell  anything  eaten  or  drank,  is  evidence  that  the 
stomach  cannot  care  for  it.  It  is  an  indication  that 
fermentation  has  occurred,  and  the  flavor  or  odor  of 
food  is  being  thrown  off,  with  the  gases  of  decomposi- 
tion. This  may  result  from  improper  food,  more  often 
from  eating  too  much  or  too  fast.  If  the  eructations 
are  greasy,  avoid  fats ;  if  they  are  sour,  avoid  sugar  and 
starchy  foods,  as  these  produce  acids  which  cause  the 
sour  taste.  If  there  is  a  bitter  taste  in  the  mouth  it  is 
bile,  and  indicates  congestion  of  the  bile-ducts. 

The  stomach  does  not  rebel  without  a  cause,  and  its 
warnings  should  be  heeded.  When  stomachal  diges- 
tion is  perfect  we  are  unconscious  we  have  a  stomach. 
Every  organ  has  its  individual  signs  by  which  it  makes 
known  any  abnormal  condition,  and  it  is  upon  the  rec- 
ognition of  such  signs  that  diagnosis  is  made.  Diet, 
fresh  air,  sunshine  and  proper  exercise,  will  cure  most 
cases  of  dyspepsia.  If  muscular  exercise  could  be 
bottled  up  and  administered  in  tea  or  tablespoonful 
doses,  while  people  were  in  bed  or  comfortably  seated 
in  rocking  chairs,  it  would  be  more  generally  indulged 


230  MICROBES   AND   HEALTH. 

in,  and  those  preparing  such  treatment  could  command 
their  millions.  Ball  playing,  Indian-club  swinging, 
the  use  of  light  dumb-bells,  the  playground  with  its 
sunshine  and  pure  air,  or  gliding  over  the  dancing 
waters  in  boats,  are  better  than  medicines,  tonics,  bit- 
ters, pills,  powders,  patents,  and  poor  whisky.  Eemem- 
ber,  the  three  great  physicians  of  nature  are  fresh  air, 
pure  water,  and  sunshine. 

When  the  stomach  is  irritable  through  indigestion, 
the  condition  is  reflected  to  the  brain  and  other  organs 
through  the  connecting  nerve-fibers.  This  weaves  a 
thread  of  disorder  which  may  baffle  human  skill.  This 
condition  produces  many  imaginary  ailments,  the 
<rblues,"  melancholy,  irritability,  etc.  These  cases  do 
not  need  medicine.  It  is  as  absurd  to  treat  such  cases 
with  medicine  as  it  would  be  to  give  medicine  for  lame- 
ness caused  by  a  sliver  driven  into  the  hand.  The 
stomach  needs  a  rest  and  freedom  from  all  irritating 
substances  just  as  much  as  the  hand  needs  to  have  the 
sliver 'removed.  Any  quack  can  dose  a  dyspeptic  with 
-cathartic  pills  and  whisky-bitters,  but  it  takes  a  pro- 
found physiologist  and  a  good  cook  to  prepare  food  for 
a  diseased  stomach. 

All  starchy  foods  should  be  cooked  for  a  much  longer 
time  than  usual.  We  read  that  bread  is  the  staff  of 
life,  but  as  stated,  there  is  nothing  said  about  dough. 

Many  cases  of  dyspepsia  can  be  cured  by  eating 
slowly.  It  may  be  interesting  to  know  that  a  glass  of 
ice-water  lowers  the  temperature  of  the  stomach  thirty 
degrees,  and  this  has  a  powerful  effect  in  checking 
digestion,  and  in  producing  shock. 

Alcohol  is  the  greatest  producer  of  dyspepsia. 


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